The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Hometown Hero

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

It’s Hometowns week on Grant’s season of The Bachelor and Ben & Ashley are ready to recap every dramatic moment!   We open up about the contestant who has ZERO chemistry with Grant, and we break down one of the most shocking exits of the season!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime Podcasts and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts,

where we dive into the story. that shape us on the page and off each week i'm joined by authors celebs book talk stars and more for conversations that will make you laugh cry and add way too many books to your tbr pile listen to bookmarked by reese's book club on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast apple books is the official audio book and ebook home for rees's book club visit apple dot co forward slash reese apple books to find out more hi my name is 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. TSA rules, so confusing. You got a hood of you. I'll take it all! I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing,

where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

No Such thing. This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast with IHartRadio. It's almost famous podcast. We were here breaking down Grant's season of The Bachelor. Now, we are at hometowns this week. There's so much to talk about. Ashley, I'm going to start out the podcast with saying this. It is one of the most shocking exits of the season.

Now, before we get to that, let's break down the episode. Are you ready? Yes. We have Juliana's date for the first date. It's in Newton, Massachusetts, East Coast, something you're familiar with. I like the vibe, very familiar vibe. Like the North End. Well, I guess it was the little Italy in her town, but, you know, Boston's North End.

And I just don't, I don't know. How do you feel about this? Because I know Juliana is a frontrunner, but overall, I left her date still wanting more. There's only one person in this competition that I feel a real connection with. I loved her date, actually. Her date part was good. Yeah, but I put it at number two as the hometowns for the week. Yeah.

Confidently at number two. Yeah. I loved her family. I loved her dad. Now, granted, I married into an Italian family. So there is a level here where I just watched this and felt, I did feel like there was missing something. Because what I love about Italian family is this. They are unapologetically almost rude.

not like they're loving when you're inside of it when you're inside of that circle you feel like you have the most love in the world when you're on the outside looking in especially on a first date they're they're almost mean to you and that's okay once you understand what they're getting at and i wish they would have been a little meaner to grant and i don't know why they weren't because i know they wanted to be that teaser that they had last week where that you you caught the dad saying you're kissing my daughter in front of me or whatever did seem so scary in the previews and such like a jokester moment in real life which was cute i like that moment it was probably my favorite moment of the date that and when the dad said i love him i love the guy

like that was really um must have made juliana feel really good it had to have i just i've been around italians like 100% Italians so when i first uh met Jess's family, her aunts, they sat me at a table and they sat across from me and I was on one side at the table and they drilled me and they said, we like you, Ben, enough. But if you hurt Jess, we will hurt you. That was how they opened my very first time ever meeting them. And I remember leaving that being like, I don't know what they meant and I had to get to explain to me because I've never been around that. The mob was going after you? No, I think they could have called upon them. okay can i just say that just doesn't strike me as like uber italian in any way yeah she's like

this sweet southern bell to me she does not register italian big italian northeast family she doesn't feel comfortable in those but she lets her aunts do what they want to do right so they like she knows that they have an element to them that she doesn't have and i think she trusts it and i think when somebody like me walks in where jess is like i think i'm going to marry this guy she's like he needs to be able to handle this I have a shirt upstairs when I left if they gave me so here's how it kind of comes together is I left that

and they said welcome to the Italian family as they gave me a t-shirt that's had that on there and I still have it said this day but I missed in this hometown and I don't know what I mean I I don't understand exactly why I didn't exist how they weren't harder on grant

because the Italians don't just let things go like this the dad doesn't now just say, I love the guy. That's not a thing. It's not. Well, he did say, like, I'm really concerned that you have through other girls here and, like, I'm worried that you're going to break her heart, which is, you know, classic needs to say on a hometown. Yeah, you're right. It wasn't very intense. I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of people, though, at this date and at Latia's date, particularly this date. Like, when Juliana was rambling off how many people were going to be there. I would have been so intimidated

if I were Grant because I would like want to feel like I was having quality time with the immediate family that needs to know me the most. And in this case, like, I don't really think he was going to get like any really quality time with anyone. It's just going to be like hellos. See, can I, I mean,

this isn't about me. You would have felt more comfortable in this environment? Oh, 100%. Because... Well, you were the bachelor because so maybe in a bachelor scenario, this would actually make you feel more comfortable because you don't have to have the spotlight on you too much. You don't. I mean, Kayla Quinn's day, I remember, was incredible. I still remember where the hotel I stayed in, where we went, who her family was,

her family was awesome. But there was only a small group of us together all day. And it was a lot of pressure because you are spending all day with the same people. And you're in an environment where you can't, you can be yourself, but you have to protect your, you know, the conversations that are existing. I think when there's a lot of people, you can kind of let lose. and let everybody else entertain themselves. It's like a party compared to a one-on-one. It's a group date compared to a one-on-one. And so I think when it comes to the Bachelor world,

specifically, the more people, the easier on the lead. And I think in this environment, Grant, I don't know if Grant was at that point. I can't speak for him. But it is easier to not just be speaking to the mom and dad all day. Okay. and I want to say that I did like the activity portion of the state where they went to make pizza and the guy truly seemed like authentic to knowing Juliana and knowing the family and then they went to the pastry shop like it felt like something that we would do like at my grandparents house in Northern Jersey. It felt very familiar and authentic.

I am going to say something that will probably be controversial to the listener and it could be controversial to anybody. As the Bachelor, there was an element at these hometowns where you, I specifically, I don't want to say that everybody did this, but I specifically paid attention to how people responded to the, like, the contestant that I was visiting. So how would the pizza shopmaker respond? Where would they bring me in their hometown and who would know them there? And I think the little bit of that is because I'm from a small town. So there's no place I go in Warsaw, Indiana, where I don't know somebody working at the place

that I would bring a date, right? And I'm hoping that person either, like, gives me a hard time or they celebrate me or whatever, but at least they know me and they, like, feel comfortable with me. Because what it said to me was they've invested into their community, into where they're from. Yeah. Why would this annoy anyone? Because I think everybody else within this episode didn't have that. She's the only one. Oh, yes.

It was like everybody else felt very distant from the date that they were presenting. Yes, I thought this was the weirdest hometown's episode because it felt like we were at nobody's hometown except for Julia. That was why it would be controversial to listener

because I know there's elements that came into play to cause that to be the case. And those elements, I don't think, and rightfully so we don't understand any of them like we don't know the stories behind but like why zoe's like hometown was the way it was we we know bits and pieces we just don't know the story and that's fine i'm not mad about that that's that's her prerogative that's her personal life that's cool but it felt like this was the only real hometown that we got yes to the point

where it was like oh my gosh poor grand he had to go all over the country and like he didn't really end up having a hometown date with any of these girls except for Juliana. He ended up just meeting the family or, you know, meeting the closest people to them. They could have flown those. Well, they wouldn't have flown those people out. They would have obviously flown rent there. But you know what I mean? Like the location didn't seem to play at all.

The locations never made sense to me. Now, freaking Wyoming. My family's had a ranch in Wyoming for my whole life. You want to know how many airports there are to fly into in Wyoming? Not many. Like, there's not. He had to take a drive. I don't know where he was coming from.

from. He might have flown to the Denver for that day and drove six hours. Maybe you got some private planes. I don't know. But anyways, I guess the controversial statement I was trying to make is this, out of all of them, felt like the only hometown that actually existed. All of those others could have existed anywhere in the country. Yeah. I agree with you. I'm not going to keep you heat or anything. I can tell you that in my hometown, I could walk into like the deli and they're not going to know my name. It doesn't mean that I'm not like, don't feel like I'm from there. It's just different towns call for, you know, different relationships. But you were made for a smaller town. All right. So, uh, Juliana's date comes off and it's like, hey, she should be here next week.

No questions to me. Now, was it the best hometown? Did it feel like everything happened how we thought it would know? But it was a great hometown. And I left that date feeling like she's going to be here next week no matter what so let's see who's not going to be here she's going to be in the finale i just feel like there's a there's a huge discrepancy in this episode between the two in the finale presumably and the two that are not and i just i still feel like i know that they were saying basically like i am falling in love with you i'm falling in love with you blah i don't feel a huge connection between the two of them uh it's i mean if we're comparing based on this season, Ashley,

it's up there in terms of connections. Well, yeah, I know. I'm realizing that that is the problem to this season. I really don't feel a lot of intense depth. I have a theory, and I'll share at the end. Okay. I know who's going to be there in the final two. Yeah.

I feel like anybody watching knows. Okay, okay, okay, fair. Then let's take what we have is the preview, and obviously we know that Grant is so conflicted at the end. So if you and I are sitting here saying we know who the final two are going to be, then obviously at the very end of this,

the final two that we believe is going to be there and we're not going to see him yet. We'll see him at the very end of this episode. He is so conflicted that he's falling in love with both of them. I'm very confused by this. Okay. We'll talk about it later.

Let's move on to Zoe's hometown. Zoe was in both of our final fours. We've had belief in her since the very beginning. She's the only reason we can claim that our really baseless, assumption-based show that happens at the beginning of every season has any merit because we both said Zoe will be there in the final four. We're right. Hey, we're experts.

We're right. Now, Zoe to me and Grant, I'm shocked that she is still here after this episode. It feels like they missed the mark on every level when it comes to communication, intimacy, physicality, like, it feels like they have no relationship to me. Absa freaking luteley, Ben. Am I wrong? That's exactly how I feel.

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. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of, like, butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to bookmarked

by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's book club. Visit apple.c.O. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Hi, my name is Enya Emanzor. 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, I'm going 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. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help

of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, until this. Do this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do it my eyes close. I'm Mani. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing.

We get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run right I'm looking at this thing

Listen to no such thing On the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Ashley, I'm glad that you feel this way with me Because I watch this again You watch it twice No, I've watched the whole, no

I'm watching the whole season And I watch this episode Because there's been this like character arc of Zoe that's untraditional to any other story that ever exists in the world, right? We have, she's controversial. We feel like she's gonna be a villain and then she's lovable

and then she has this connection with Grant. And now she's like, so we're coming into this episode with this connection with Grant and we're loving on Zoe and we're like, we're so happy she's here. So I'm waiting for that kind of pinnacle moment for us to go, of course she's still here.

Like there's no question she should still be here. And I watch this episode. And I know her scenario is different because of her, like, what's going on with her and her family right now and so many things we don't know. But yet we're kind of reading through the lines and we're knowing that there's some type of family issue where her adopted family isn't going to be there. And that's great. That's fine. We understand that. So we're like, okay, we're going to still focus on Grant and Zoe.

And I watch this, Ashley. And I watch this whole day. And I'm like, they don't have anything. No, there's nothing there. And the fact that she chose to do the whole, like, model shoot with the bride stuff, we had, like, a wedding shoot. Oh, my gosh. And for there to be so little chemistry during that was just like, this is so awkward. And I bet you it was even more awkward in real life because we know how the show can take, like, a fine moment and make it look really romantic.

Put some music behind it. They couldn't even make this look natural. It was tough. Well, and even some of the words she was saying to her sister, she said, what I love about Grant is he like, you know, I'm a hardworking woman. Great. I celebrate that. You are a strong, hardworking woman.

Yeah. So that's the baseline. She says, he likes the creative side of me. And I think he likes the model side of me. He'll take it all. I'm like, why are they two different things? You're one human. Like, why do those have to be separated?

Zoe, like you are both. and that is beautiful and that is incredible and that is such a spectacular thing for you to have is to be beautiful and creative and to be all these things at once but it's like when you say that it makes me think that you're asking this dude to love two different people

and I don't think you're two different people I didn't pick up on that but I did pick up on her sister being like so like how do you feel about him you know like are you falling in love with him and she was like I like him something along those lines I'm like okay like what is going

on just because you're both too hot people doesn't make this work it's not it feels like too hot people trying to make it work yeah i'm shocked she didn't go home when i said at the beginning this is the most shocking exit of the season to me what is he talking about i'm shocked she didn't go home i thought for sure she would go home really even after seeing dinas because after seeing dinas i was like uh they're tied if not dinas was worse okay because there was zero chemistry there too yeah and You could tell that he was just like, I have to, like, talk to your friends and, like, even pretend like, this is, like, something that might go anywhere. He was super thrown off at the family not being around, which I can get, again, it's kind

of like, why did you send me here to just go to a pumpkin patch with your friends? Please come to L.A. I don't know. But let's talk about Latia's date first. Yeah. It's in Wyoming, which, again, we get a brief. synopsis. I love Wyoming. Let's be clear, though. I love Wyoming. It's amazing place. So windy.

So beautiful. And what was Beckettilly once? To the Tito's? Teton's. Yes. Yeah. Different part of the state. But yes, very beautiful place. Yeah. So they like to meet here at, we don't know if it's this cabin or if

they rented out. It felt like it could have been like a rented out cabin. It was so extraordinary. And if not, then it's like, okay, so what's your family do? you have this random huge as mansion because she was talking about her grandma a lot

who her grandma couldn't be there obviously well her grandma has passed yes that's what I'm saying she couldn't be that's a weird way in putting it but okay well that's what they kept saying is she couldn't be there yeah thanks Ashley

for clearing that up okay just goodness gracious so maybe the grandpa you know he's like he looks like oil it's oil yeah i was going to say oil but i was like if i being weird for just saying it's oil it's all about oil ashley okay i was like this feels like um what was the show with with larry

hagman um Dallas it feels a good Dallas move yeah yeah no like at some point this i let's assume for the sake of this conversation that this is their family ranch like this is their this is their This is their family's second home where they can go visit and have fun at and ride horses. Okay. A beautiful place. Absolutely gorgeous.

I love seeing it because I love Wyoming. I do. I think it's one of the coolest places on earth that's like that nobody lives at. And how do I see this? Is it just mirro to like did she shine this episode? Like she just looked like she was glowing off the screen. Okay, let me tell you this.

I think she's gotten prettier with each episode. the more you get to know our personality. Is that it? Is that what I'm feeling? Okay. Yeah. I feel like I'm getting, you know how when you're attracted to someone and you get to know them,

their personality rocks? Yeah. They get more attractive to you. This like even applies to like friendships. You're like, you see somebody's soul obviously is beautiful. They come across as more attractive on the outside. And that to her,

that's happening to meet with her. Okay. I felt it this episode. I've always thought she was a frontrunner. at least since we started watching the show but this episode I was like there's no question like there's something about her this episode that is jumping off the screen at me

where it's like there's no he has to fall in love with this girl yeah it's an incredible dynamic between the two of them there is still the element of faith and so that's the big storyline going into this and he makes one of the most

obscure statements at the beginning of this date that I've ever heard. Okay, he said that he was scared and that he said, he said, he's, she said, he said, I'm not scared. And then it was like, blah, blah, blah. And at the end, he was like, well, I'm scared. It was like a big explanation. No, that wasn't it. Okay. He says this statement, I'm still someone who sometimes likes to have a drink and have fun.

Have fun. Have fun. Oh my God. And I was like, dude, wait, timeout, buddy. I think you've been great, Grant. I think you'd be a dude that'd be great to hang out with. I feel for you. I want you to find love so bad. Let's say that. The fact that you at any level are questioning if people of Mormon faith don't like to have fun,

if that is a question to you, somebody needs to like shake you right now. and say, hey, Mormons can still have fun too, buddy. Like, they still have a good time. Like, you aren't giving this thing up. Like, the fun factor doesn't change if you marry into this family. That is so funny that that rang in your ear because that was something that, like, I chewed over for a second as well. Yeah. I'm like, okay, so this is just him kind of indirectly saying.

I have no clue what's going on in this face system. No, no, no, to me, it's like being, having fun means like doing like sinful things, like getting drunk and hooking up. Oh, so he's going to old school like evangelical route where he's like sex, drugs and alcohol are going to be talked about at every youth group in the same like funnel and those three things are going to be associated together for the rest of your life. So if you are going to do anything like sex, drugs and alcohol, If you're going to think about anybody inappropriately, if you're going to drink any alcohol,

if you're going to do any drugs, then like, that's what fun is. But is he wrong in the sense of the Mormon faith? Like that stuff doesn't go on, really? He's wrong. They don't drink at all, right? Not traditionally, no. But I also don't think that drinking and fun are equated. That's what I'm trying to say.

You can still have plenty fun without drinking. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say. It's sad to equate them. Yes. Like, not that you be shunned. And I think her family, and we'll get to this, did an incredible job at reassuring him that if he enters into the family without sharing the same faith tradition, he's still widely accepted. And there's arms that are going to be thrown around him in love. So let's, like, preface it with that.

But the fact that his mind goes to, wait, I still like to do these things at times. and that's what fun to me is, I think is the bigger question here. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I see that. And I also just wish, I think the only thing I think of this day

and the only criticism I have of Grant within this day, and it could have still happened to show, didn't maybe show it, is I want him, if this is a really, like, a concern of his, if this is his,

like, I want him to ask more questions about it. Like, I want him to sit with the dad and be like, can you tell me more, about like what it is that you guys practice what would be important to you as i stepped into a relationship with your daughter on behaviors that i have and don't have i think he would get

some clarity and probably get some peace of mind on that he can still live his life in a way that he finds fun without you know sacrificing the acceptance of the family but that that That was a wild statement. And maybe it's just because, like, faith and religious practice is such an intrigue of mine is when he started by saying, you know, I have my concerns, whatever, whatever, I still have some drinks. I still like to have a drink and I like to have fun. And immediately, the drink thing didn't affect me as much as the fun thing.

And I'm like, you think Mormons don't have fun? Like, look at this family. Look at this freaking family. They love each other. When somebody says to me, like, oh, I like to have a good. time or I like to have fun. I'm like, okay, who doesn't? That's my, it's always been the way that I find people coded, say, I like to party. Like, I like to drink a lot and get a little rowdy. Unless you're my wife who never drinks and her idea, if I said, like, what do you think is fun?

She would say, like, going for a four mile run, coming home and watching a movie with my husband. Literally, that would be. Same. That's my. fun, except for the run part, more of like a feet on the TV with my husband. But I think it's most people's coded way of saying, like, I like to party. But anyway, I think it's interesting that you and I both held on to that line so much. And I wonder if they intended for that to cross people's minds or whether it was just like a throwaway concern, but like he was just going to air out and like, there's no big deal. I personally think that it was put in. there for a reason because my guy is telling me that this is going to be a bigger deal for him

in the long run. And when it comes down to making his final decision, this is a huge factor in it. He's like, which lifestyle can I jive with more? Even though I may feel it more with that girl, I don't know if I could do this lifestyle. That's my guess. There's a few things that come to mind here. And I do think this is worth spending some time on. Because I think she's going to be a frontrunner. He said some things. Then this is why I wish Grant would ask more questions in the midst of this kind of conversation. Because I think he's an intelligent dude. I don't know what he feels comfortable asking and not asking within this environment. And anybody I know that's Mormon would not mind having any questions asked. So I'm hoping at some point they kind of

kind of tell him, you can ask anything you want about us. Like every stereotype that you've heard from us, every confusing topic that you've tried to understand from us, like you can ask it. And we'll answer it confidently because this is what we've decided to do. I'm hoping he gets that confidence to ask the questions that are necessary. Because he says a few things that feel immature when it comes to religious studies. One is he says, hey, but we still have like the base faith.

the same thing right yeah that's cool like so we're good i'm like that's true like that isn't wrong but like that's not the whole scenario right you have to ask more questions to understand what exactly that base faith looks like because i want to know grant from you what is your base base faith so that's a big deal his feels more like a very general on the surface and for her it couldn't be more is it bad to say the word niche it's it's i think niche i think niche well no i think niche and concentrated there is a face system so i think what you're saying is like there is a system in place that her family follows that is very specific in particular to why they believe what they believe i don't think they're not going to be accepting of grant and i think he should have

heard that during this whole family date. And I think that was very important for him to hear is that, hey, you can come into this thing, man. Like, we're not asking you to convert. We're not asking you to do anything more than love our daughter and help start this family that we so believe in and love. That's the baseline here. 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'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. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of, like, butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's book club. Visit apple.co. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more.

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, until this. Do this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do it my eyes close. I'm Manny.

I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run right.

I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no such thing on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebeney, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you.

On Pretty Private, we'll explore the unambority. Unto experiences of women of color who faced it all. Childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health struggles, and more. And found the shrimp to make it to the other side. My dad was shot and killed in his house. Yes, he was a drug dealer. Yes, he was a confidential informant. But he wasn't shot on a street corner.

He wasn't shot in the middle of a drug deal. He was shot in his house, unarmed. Pretty private isn't just a podcast. It's your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Can we just say how interesting it would have been if he would have said, am I expected to convert if we're going to get married?

I think it's a really great question. I know. An amazing question for him to ask is, what are the expectations of me as a partner? Because the worst case scenario would be that he is surprised by this at some point in his life. He's just not asking the questions. And I do think it probably comes from a place of concern is what can I ask and not ask? Yeah. And I think that's very fair.

Like, faith has a lot of, like, you're fearful. of, I mean, he kind of see it when the whole family comes up and he's like, all right, who all here is related? He was definitely like, is there possibly like multiple wives? Yeah, he's like wanting to ask the questions. Do I have to have five kids?

Like he should have just asked them to the father because the father was such a welcoming place. And it felt like in that situation, anything that was on his mind he could have asked. hey, I like got myself stuck there at the beginning when everybody come out to me and been like, who's all related here? That and fine question, great question. But at some point he has to dig into it.

At some point, he has to ask the questions that so many would probably be wondering outside of the faith is everybody here married to each other. Oh, no, that's not the case. Okay, cool. Like, why have I heard that my whole life? And then somebody could explain it to him. yeah well you know like why is this family so big like that's the fun part also though and i don't want to take this for granted it's the fun part of like falling in love with somebody

is you get to be have be curious about their life and so maybe he'll ask it what he's more comfortable we are also not maybe giving him the benefit of the doubt perhaps he asked this he certainly was contemplating it and maybe felt like it wasn't even appropriate to talk about on TV, you know? That's fair. Or maybe not on the first meeting, which I agree. Like on the first meeting of a family, you would never talk about things like that. This is just like a bachelor exception. And let's also give Grant some credit where I think we see in the next date, which we'll move on to now. Except for, can we talk about the grandpa moment? I love the grandpa. The grandpa was so, which we established, he's an oil typhoon. Yeah, we've already know we know about him. He's so

wealthy he's so sweet um the way that she told him the secret of like that she was falling for him and then he didn't hear it and then she just whispered it again it was just like the realest cutest moment well and it's the grandpa i want to be because his response to her wasn't uh oh my gosh i'm so excited for you he's like i hope it's going to work out and like there was a wisdom in every word he said to her i know i wish your grandma could be here um i haven't seen you be this way with anybody else. There is these words that he was saying that came from deep thought

and a man that has practiced thinking before he speaks. And you could tell that in the midst of that, she felt very comfortable talking to him about that. And how sweet was it when she said, like, you know, he's different than my dad was, the dad that passed away when she was three months old,

just absolutely tragic. and he goes yes your father was so easy to love so so easy to love oh oh okay final thought on this date and this is where my lack of um religious knowledge comes in the mom is in having a conversation they talk about fantasy sweets and she they talk about fantasy sweets and she says if he's you know um intimate with anybody else it would upset me which i think we see is going to be a storyline for the next episode for sure yeah i felt like the mom handled this in a way that i did not expect by saying have you actually thought through this are you willing to like i don't know what her words were exactly but it's like pretty much are you willing to like give him the benefit of the doubt and

open your mind to whatever happens in the fantasy suites because this is such a unique week now that is that to me was a very interesting statement coming from a storyline where faith has been such a focus for the last two weeks because it sounds like she the mom would not necessarily encourage her to shut off if he's intimate with anybody else exactly like if he was to be the mom wouldn't hold that against him necessarily that's what that's what i took from it that's what I took from it. And I thought that was, one, a healthy perspective from a parent. We don't hear that very often. So I was like, mom, kudos to you. This is such a weird week. Like, what an amazing mindset you're giving your daughter. Not that he should be. I'm just saying that you're leaving

her open to make decisions based on whatever happens this next week. But two, then I had to check it against the storyline that's been happening for the last two weeks, which is my family is our very, very, very faithful, conservative, like, foundationally, like, like practicing their faith. And I thought that was an incredible, like, mom moment where she sat with her daughter more as a friend as, like, adult daughter to friend mom and just poured wisdom into her instead of like momming her, which I think is so common during these dates, and pressuring her to think one way. thought her mom in that, like, I wanted to lift her up and be like, you, you've not only implemented

this thought to your daughter's head to stay, like, open, but also you've continued to pour under her where her values and traditions lie. Yeah. An incredible parenting moment that we can all learn from. Yeah, I agree. Totally agree. Bravo. Perfect words, Ben. Yeah, there we go. All right, final hometown of this week was one that fell completely short and obviously left with somebody going home. Didn't expect her to go home this week, especially after the Zoe date. As I said, Zoe is very, very much now at this point in category three to me. I think there's no question that when it comes to the finale episode, we're going to know who the final two are. If it's not, I'll be shocked. But this date is still something to talk about because it happened this week.

The family is not for this bachelor situation. Ashley, I'm going to make a personal statement on this, that, again, will probably ruffle feathers. I love it. I think there's nothing about, I think there's nothing good about parenting when your child chooses to do something and they've entered into it to where you say, I'm not going to support it. I think there's only one way that goes, and that is the child feeling like they're unsupported, which is how she felt this episode.

Yeah. No matter if you like it or not, even if Grant, has to show up to your house and you're like, I don't like the fact you're dating all these other women. I don't like the fact that my daughter won on the show.

I don't like the fact that she's even here with you. I think that's a better scenario than what existed during this episode. Totally. You can sense that even though she's very confident in her delivery all the time. Like this made her feel like a little bit embarrassed

and then she just wanted to brush off really quickly. I would have at least wished that some of the siblings. She has 11 siblings. And you're telling me that 11 siblings. of them were like, no, we're going to side with mom and dad on this. That makes me sad. That makes me do, makes me feel like she is, like, alone in this. And it makes me really wonder her decision to go on the show.

She had to have known that her family was so against it. Well, that's the big question, right? So at some point, this conversation had to exist between them. And she chose to still go on the show even without anybody's support. That's one red flag, I would say. Yeah. The second red flag is that, yeah, 11 siblings and nobody else wanted to show up to support her. I think that's not a good move.

I'm confused by this whole situation. Yeah. And it felt like it was confusing to her too. And it did bring insecurity into her, especially when all the other women were talking about their dates. And she's in there being like, I'm the only one. They didn't have anybody. I had my friends. And I went to a pumpkin patch.

Yeah. And I tried to make the best of a really bad situation. Dina, if you're listening, I mean this to make you feel better. You were going to get eliminated either way. I think she sees that now. No, you're right. Do you know what I mean?

Like, if your family did show up, like I still think you were going to get eliminated. Maybe it would be a toss up between you and Zoe, but like you were making the top two. What made me feel really awkward about this and I know this made me dumb. but like it's a hometown episode right so you kind of think that you're going to do what you would do in your hometown show in places that mean something to you the fact that they went to the pumpkin patch on top of her family not being involved made me feel really even further disconnected to this being a hometown because they went to something seasonal that she didn't even make it seem like there was any connection to it especially since it said it was a jack-o-lantern pop-up so it's not even there all the time this is not even like a tradition of hers during the fall well it it you You heard it, it happened late.

I'm guessing the show, like, on the way they heard that the family actually wasn't going to do this. And they're like, what do we do now? Okay, who has 500 pumpkins that we can buy? Put up a sign, invite the friends. Let's figure something out. I know. It did feel disconnecting. I think what your words there actually, like if she heard this, it's not true.

And I think she sees it now, right? So she wasn't going to win this thing. No. It's good that she went home this week. There's no issues with her. No, he loved the idea of Dina. He was like, I love her passion and her, her drive. It's like very attractive, but like he didn't feel romance toward her.

No. But it was a weird date. It was a date that felt unnecessary. She could have said, hey, Grant, how about this? I'll fly to you. How about you and I have a day together? And I'll introduce you to five of my closest friends in the same. city that we're going to fly to. This felt

unnecessary and it felt very much like the producers were thrown off guard at the very end and they had to figure this out. And then my last comment is that this is also maybe ridiculous, but like if it didn't happen at a pumpkin patch and it happened

at a bar that they go too often, I would at least felt like that was home here. I'm with you. Well, at least they could have drinks. The rest of this episode exists with Julian and Grant sitting down, not a lot that comes from that other than Joey giving him some sound advice on how to process the next steps in this relationship.

Then we do see the girls catching up and Dina feeling at that point like she's the only one who didn't give Grant a true hometown. Well, Dina ends up going home at the end of this episode, left with Latia, Jilliana, and Zoe moving into the Fantasy Suite week. Ashley, you and I would both agree. that this is a two-horse race, right? You're up. It's Latia,

it's Juliana, and we're going to figure out who wins at the end. Yep, 1,000%. Like, we say that with such confidence and we're not spoiled. No. And guess what's happening next week, guys? Because this, as we said last week,

this season is two weeks shorter than a typical bachelor season. But guess what we get next week? Women tell all. because we needed to put that there. It was so necessary. It was way more imperative than Grant having another week of dates. I don't get it.

It's so weird. I know it's cheaper for them, but whatever. We don't need it. We absolutely do not need two hours of a really not that dramatic season being recapped and squawked at. But we'll watch it. We're going to break it down right here at the Almost Famous podcast. We will be here. You know, we don't love that one, but we're going to be here.

And I guess that's it for this episode. We appreciate you guys listening to us every week. Until next time, I've been Ashley. And I've been Ben. We'll see you next week. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on IHartRadio, 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 and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of, like, butterflies.

I'm Danielle Robeye, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TVR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club On the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit apple.c.O. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hood of you. I'll take it off. I'm Manny.

I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like, that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to no such thing on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. No such thing.

Hi, my name is Enya Yumanzoor. 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. This is an IHeart podcast.