The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Here for the Right Reasons with Greg Grippo

Episode Date: August 22, 2024

We’re getting to know the REAL Greg Grippo! Ben is hanging out with Greg from Katie Thurston’s season and hearing the story of how he ended up on The Bachelorette, what his life was like after leaving the show, and what’s next after his split from Victoria Fuller!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and 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. Hi, I'm Jenna Lopez and in the new season of the Over Comfort Podcast, I'm even more honest, more vulnerable, and more real than ever. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life?

Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? Join me for conversations about healing and growth, all from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Listen to the new season of the Overcombered podcast on the I Heart 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. 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 true. 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell. And the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to get caught. and I just looked at my computer screen.

I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology's already solving so many cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts with IHart Radio. This is the almost famous podcast. We're here in San Francisco. Yes, this is the weekend of the almost famous golf tournament, which will be an annual thing probably for the next 30 years, because I'll be working for Almost Famous for the next 30 years.

I'll believe 60 years old talking about The Bachelor. That's cool, right? Greg? That is very cool. Yeah, that's a really cool place to be. But this is the first year of it. The reason we're doing it is to bring people together. Because in this Bachelor world, it's a little chaotic. It's not a lot of time just to sit back and hang out and just be together with people outside of your season.

Today, we have somebody I've always been super intrigued by. For multiple reasons, one of those is because the girls in the Almost Famous podcast really love Greg Gripeau. Oh, that's sweet. Yeah, they really do. In fact, one of the girls that work for the Almost Famous Podcast said all of her friends are super excited to meet Greg. Oh, that's sweet. I feel like I haven't met any of them. Yeah. They're nervous. I'm nervous. Come on. Goodness gracious. Greg, welcome. I'm glad to be here. You're sporting our brand already. I am. I have had this for years. What is the true story of why you're wearing our T-shirts tonight? Andrew and I were playing. It was,

was a little bowling ball game outside in the yard. And then he whipped the ball at me, wine hit my chest, shirt gone. I said, you know what? I'm going to rock the almost famous gear for the rest of the night. It's a good workout shirt. You can cut the sleeves out of if you like. A little tight, a little snug, but I'll take it. It's one that I don't even own. Is that right? It's exclusive. Yeah, I said, I'm going to get one. That'd be nice. It probably has my face in the back, doesn't it? Does it actually? No, it doesn't. Oh, I was going to say that would been wild. Greg, you have had a wild ride through this franchise.

Yeah. Tell me if I'm wrong. My assumption of you has always been that this show is not something that you were seeking after. Yeah, you know, I don't think, um, it's, I wasn't, to be honest with you. I mean, um, I got called, uh, three times for the show, um, twice. I turned it down third time. I said it before, and I'll say it again, it was on my dad's anniversary.

It was during COVID. I was living in New York City, working a job that I didn't love. And I was just like, screw it. Yeah, you know what? Bachelor has some sick dates. Let me travel a little bit. I mean, it was a bubble season,

but we went to New Mexico. And, I mean, I was single at the time, and I just, it was a shot in the dark. My sister ended up submitting me years prior. They called me for Becca Cufferin season. I was way too young for that. And then Clare's, and I was also not ready enough for that. And then Katie's, it was just right timing.

So, like, when it comes to you and Katie, let's start there. Yeah. You get on the show that you weren't, you know, they said no to multiple times. Yeah. Like, why was Katie as the Bachelorette as something that you were like, this is the one I would go for? Yeah. I mean, you never also, I feel like I don't know about you, but for me, I was never a hundred, 100% sure that it was case.

Katie, I mean, we were hearing rumors and I was like, all right, it's definitely going to probably be Katie. I was hoping it was going to be Katie. But I think it was just the place that at least I thought I was in at the time. And I thought that I was in a good enough place. And I also just like kind of just like wanted to take a chance at something. And it was exciting to me. And I was just like, you know what?

At the end of the day, I could get sent home night one and that's also okay. And like, I was fine with that. Yeah. I would agree with you because my season of the Bachelorette, I didn't know who the Bachelors were going to be and it was two. So they had two. I had two that season.

And that was a wild ride because then they made you choose on night one, which one you wanted, you voted. And then one stayed and one went home. That's interesting. So the complaint that like you were never there for the right reasons is one that not that you had that complaint. I'm saying in general

like anybody gets the complaint like you weren't there for the Bachelorette. It's like, well, no, didn't really know who it was. Right. Yeah. Like, of course I wasn't maybe there for the bachelor. Exactly. You don't know until you show up. Yeah, no, you have no idea. I mean, it's just like, you know, you're hoping at the end of day like, hey, I could have a connection with the person, but you also feel like it's a long shot also because you're, it's, it's hard to envision when you really don't know 100% who the person is. And then you went through it and things started to change for you. Like feeling started to grow, emotions started to come out.

You went through this whole thing. obviously know how your season of The Bachelorette ended. But your story really started post-bachelorette, like, where you were a fan favorite. Like, you really were. It depends on who you're asking. I think, I mean, I think you listen to the critics more than you hear the, like, compliments. But I think in general, from my perspective, as an outsider, like, people loved you. Yeah.

Well, it's, it's nice to know that, that you at least took it like that. I mean, I felt, at least right out of the show, right out of the gate, not in the beginning. I'm talking about towards the end as soon as I left. I mean, I was, it was a scary time, at least for me. And at least like I was, it was just like a humbling experience. And I felt like I was just like a shell of myself during the time. But it, I feel like I cracked out of that in the last year or so. So I feel like I'm in a good spot right now. But during it all, it was rough. you felt like the world was like coming at you a little bit i wouldn't say coming at me it just felt like a lot all at once did it affect your personal life yeah without a doubt how did you deal with

it um gosh uh went back to therapy i mean i discovered that i had so much to work on um even like post like stuff with like my father um and like my family dynamic that i have to work out on my own, you know, my own grief towards him and, you know, sadness towards how I was feeling with my own family dynamic, you know, leaving my mom by herself was just a struggle for me. And there was just so much personal things I had to go through that like I was figuring out that like, okay, maybe I wasn't ready for this at the end of day. So I don't know if this question will come off. It will probably come off a little intrusive, but without the show, how would you have confronted those things that obviously were needing

to be confronted at some point? Yeah, absolutely. Just not knowing when they would have been. You know, it's tough to say, you know, because in what happened in life in my reality, I mean, it was maximized to put it right into my face and to show me that I needed to continue therapy and continue work on myself. And I mean, hey, it like, it took, I mean, I've been off the show for a lot. I think it's like three years at this point.

And I finally feel like I'm in, like, the healthiest spot since, like, my dad got sick. But obviously that's, I mean, to the, the viewers who don't know the behind the scenes, don't know the work you're doing, don't know where you're at, I think they're going to hear that and be like, that's interesting because you obviously are now still single.

Right, yeah. And so you come off a very public breakup. So at some point in this whole thing, you decide to come back on national television. Yeah. And announce a new relationship. Yeah. And walk into that whole path.

Right. Like, how did that even get to the point where you were saying, yeah, I'll go back on TV, not maybe, even like ideally, but just I'm going to go back on television and announce a relationship again and start this whole new journey. I mean, I was in, I was head over Eelsfer. I was. She, and I saw the backlash that she was getting. And knowing what she was about to walk into at that reunion, I mean, her and I were having discussions. I really didn't want to go on. But I was also

getting everyone in my circle was telling me not to. But at the end of the day, like, I was like, if we're going to do this, I'm going to have to stick this out with you. And I just, I went out there. We kind of went and went to the gauntlet and took it to the head. And, I mean, it was, it was a tough way to start everything for us. But I feel like there was no other way. So you went back on television. Did you feel like the response was similar to your time in the show?

Or did you, like, were you in a different place coming off of that? No, I feel like I was in a better spot because I feel like I was I think that her and I both knew that it was going to be pretty tough. I think my toughest, during that time, you know, I said this on Jason's that like it was, the toughest part about it all was seeing how it affected her. It was, the world was really hurtful towards her, which sucked. And it, it was hard to see. I didn't feel

and it's been a bit since I saw that interview I didn't feel like you had a defensive spirit like it felt like you were very much in this place of no like or not this is where we're at yeah I mean I was so content and happy I mean content's probably

I think content's a good word I think it's a great word and I think that her and I both knew that the way we started off and whether people believed it or not we knew that that was the truth of it all, and we felt certain about it. And that's why I was out there. Yeah, it was like, it wasn't as a viewer, I don't think, as a, for me, as a negative,

it was like, no, there's no, like, defensiveness. Like, you're not, like, reacting to the comments and the questions. You're just answering them. Yeah. Because it's where you're at in life. Yeah. You're going to move forward. Absolutely. How long ago was that? What was that? Was that two years ago at this point? I think it was. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, 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. friend'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.

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. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, it's Honey German, and my podcast, Grazacus 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. Yeah? But the whole pretending and code, you know, it takes a toll on you. Listen to the new. season of Grasas Has Come Again as part of my

Cultura podcast network on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, I'm Janica Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomfit podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection. Am I ready to enter this new

part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did. Join me for

conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard. And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happened in motion. Even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, the kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing.

Be a part of my new chapter and listen to the new season of the Overcomfit podcast as part of the MyCultura podcast network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. So now you're back out into the world two years ago in a new relationship. That ends at some point here along the journey.

And you're sitting here with us today. Yeah. Do you, like, can you catch us up on where you're at mentally just as a human outside of, you know, the ending of that and the entering into the new world again? you talked about your journey of getting back healthy, confronting some of the things you wanted or needed to confront that you maybe even know you need to confront. Yeah. Like where are you at today?

Yeah, I think that's like the biggest thing is that like a lot of the things you need to confront, that's the most frustrating part about it, is that you don't maybe don't realize in the moment that you need to confront. And like looking back on it all and like, I think taking some, a step away from dating has been the healthiest thing for me. And it's been what, what month is at August? I mean, it's been, what, six months or since seven months since her and I have ended at this point. And I haven't been dating. And it's been feeling really good to just worry about myself,

focus on myself. And it's, I feel just like I'm in a healthy spot. I really do. And it's felt like this has been needed and I feel good about it all. Is there anything else you like to say about that like just that relationship ending because the public i mean you guys kept it a secret like you did you and then you're entitled to that yeah i don't need to give you an apology for that like you you're entitled to however you want to process that but it ended and everybody was kind of like you know the people that celebrate you are like i don't know what's happening oh no i get it i get it i mean i think that uh i think maybe her and i were just a little timid because of how uh brutal things started with the public. And, you know, I, again, she's incredible. She's an incredible

person. I wish her all good things in life. And there's nothing bad to say. There's nothing bad about how we ended it. We just ended up working out. Yeah. Yeah. One of the things to transition here that I've always found impressive with you and a few others you guys have a group of friends yeah unlike any other season of the show um i have friends from my season right there's a few i'd name i'm not going to because i could would forget somebody and then i get in trouble for it but there's a few people i still keep very close ties with but your friendships from the show are like best friends they would i've interviewed some of them and they would fight for you with every word they say yeah they got your back

what caused that was it just right timing right place or what kind of cultivated this friendship that we've never seen come out of that like one season man i i i really just got lucky with the group of the guys that i was with um and i think being in that and uh in like a little bubble season helped a lot um we just spent a shit ton of time together um where we weren't traveling where all we had to do was just talk um we saw each other's true sides right off the bat Um, and I mean, those guys are, you know, Justin and Andrew, Trey are my brothers. Um, I mean, yeah, Andrew and I have helped me through rough times now in life. They've seen me through many seasons of my life now. Um, and I consider them family at this point. I feel it, man. I mean, I know you probably

don't actively listen to it almost famous podcast, but I've listened to a few episodes. Thank you, buddy. Yeah. It means a lot to me. You're not wearing our, you're wearing our brand on your show. You better listen to some. But I would say interviewing those guys, especially a few months ago when we're in Beverly Hills, like they would fight for you. I appreciate it. They've got every, like every word they say has your bag. Yeah. So you're now single. Yeah. Have to be one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City. That's sweet. And you haven't dated in seven months. Yeah. What is outside of romance or even inside of romance, like what is life, what are you hopeful for moving forward? Um, you know, I think

family is the most important thing to me and I'm hopeful that I'm going to find a person soon enough in the next hopefully within three years I'm hoping I'm like giving myself a realistic timetable and I'd like to buy a house and I'd like to start settling down at some point in my life and start building roots and yeah I mean that's kind of like where my mindset is I'm not putting any rush on it I'm not really going to put a, you know, a strict timeline on it. But at the moment, I'm content with being alone and I'd rather, and I'd rather continue to work on myself than rush into anything. And I'm just had a good spot in my life. And, you know, I've been traveling a lot with Andrew,

been working a lot with him. And I'm just excited for the next step. Whenever that is, I feel like it's going to come unexpectedly. So we'll see. now final question you've gone through the bachelor world you've gone through a relationship outside of that world but still kind of in it like what are you looking for in your partner I mean for me and I'll give you a little buffer here

like I learned a lot from my failed relationship from the show on what I was looking for when it comes to my partner for life just you know not because anybody was bad it was just because we were different but what do you now like what characteristics stand out to you in this next partner of yours. Characteristics of my next partner.

You know, I think, and this is not a knock on any of my past relationships about what they were lacking at all. I think, you know, what's important to me is that there's going to be changes in life no matter what. You know, seeing like how my brother is. with his wife and like seeing seeing the examples of my life, my sisters who are there married to, things don't always work out as planned. And all I want is just to be with someone where you know that that person is going to have your back no matter what, no matter what obstacles come in throughout

life. Just that trust into someone. It's incredible when you find it, man. Yeah. It is. It's a whole A different world. It changes everything. Greg, thanks for sitting down. Thanks for being in the hot seat. Of course. We really appreciate it. Thanks for being here.

Can't wait to golf with tomorrow. Can't wait to hang out. Excited for it. It's great to meet you in person. Yep, likewise. Cheers, buddy. Cheers. Follow the Ben and Ashley I,

almost famous podcast on IHart Radio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by

listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple 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 IHeart radio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult, but it happens all the time to people just like you. just like us. I'm Lola Blanc, and I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the 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. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more

Chisement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. 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 bestie 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 and 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 cheeseman and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great bevras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dashes Come Again on the Aheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.