The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Infamous: Clayton Echard

Episode Date: April 18, 2025

Ben and Ashley are talking to one of the most controversial Bachelors of all time: Clayton Echard.   Clayton opens up about what happened off-camera during his season, including a fight with producers that left with Clayton storming off before the end!   Plus, Clayton shares how he’s grown since his time in the mansion, and we hear about how his season almost had a totally different outcome for him and Susie Evans!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. 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, I'm Jenna Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomfit 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 hosts 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. Ben Higgins and Ashley I bring you infamous.

Sometimes roses are red flags. Welcome to infamous, because sometimes roses are red flags. Our story continues today with Clayton Eckert. you know him from Michelle Young's season and from his time as The Bachelor Clayton welcome to the podcast Thanks for having you guys This is a new little thing you got going huh?

It is so Clayton We have talked to you many times About all the fantasy sweet drama right I slept with all of you or was intimate with all of you I love all of you But we're going to start today The beginning of your season Because there was

a very well-known villain on your season, Sheney. She had pushed Elizabeth during an obstacle course. She called Elizabeth's ADHD diagnosis fake, and then there was Shrimp Gate. But you kept Sheney along for quite some time. Were you, what was your opinion of her in the house? Was it true to what we saw on TV? Yeah, I mean, to be honest with you, it was such a small part of my story and my experience. I didn't even know half of that stuff was going on because I was so focused on the other women and my connections with them that like when it first got brought up, I just said, okay, I thought it was a one-off thing.

And, you know, we all understand that's, well, each episode, it's two hours long on TV comprises, I think, four days of filming at 16 hours a day of filming. So do the math, you know, it was at 64 hours. It made it seem the edit because, again, it's all people tune in for the, entertainment for the drama. So it made it seem as though that was a massive storyline. And it wasn't to me. Like the experience I had, it was like, it was like, oh, Chenet's side comment. By the way, Shane's creating some drama. So like when I watched the show, I was like, whoa, this was the main plot line. Like I, this was hardly a narrative. But, you know, again, like the show is creating an entertaining TV show. All that stuff was happening. It just

wasn't like the main focus, you know, but that's what the editing made it seem. It's always the big question. And I think from my standpoint, I agree with Clayton. From the lead, you don't see all this stuff, nor do you know it's all happening. But it's a story that's going on. And the longer they can let it happen without you knowing it, the more content they get to show. Clayton, you've said recently to us that you have a better relationship. I don't know if you've exactly defined it as good, but a better relationship with production today.

And that's a little bit confusing to me. I think you said this before the mass layoffs that have happened, right? Over 200 people are now no longer working on the show. The whole new team is in place. Ashley and myself, we know nobody other than one person that still works on the show from our time. And that's probably similar to your situation. So my question, I guess, is help us understand. Is this a good relationship with production of old?

Or have you already spoken to the whole new team and they got your back and you guys are ready to and roll. No, so I was at, after the final rows recently, and I would say there was about six or eight familiar faces that came in, executive producers, handlers, just people that were a part of my, when I was the bachelor that were around. So I, again, I didn't see how much of the rest of the team was there. I didn't get to talk to the cameraman and women. Honestly, I was kind of more so taking in all these other things. But there was enough familiar faces, and they had come and checked in with me and we had good conversations. But I'm more so saying that like, I guess, yeah, more of a blanket statement, I'm more

so in good graces with like the production element of, or maybe, and who knows how they view me, but like I'm okay with everything that happened because Matthew McConaughey's green lights said that book really resonated with me. I just loved his voice for one, but I listen to his audio book. And on it, he said, it's not personal. It's business when referencing Hollywood. And I think that just, I realized, I was like, they had to create a TV show and you gave them a lot of stuff to put out there. So it's not like they're, you know, they just did their job, which was put out and entertaining a show.

So with that, I'm like, it's not personal. You know, I can't, these people aren't monsters. They're just, they have a job to do. And you signed up for it. You just weren't really aware of what all it was going to entail. When you're watching the show back, was there one time besides, like before Fantasy Sweet? drama where you were like holy crap like that surprised me like i can't believe that happened or that is not the way that happened uh yeah i would say um i'm sure i think what came up my my one thought

was there was there was a point where we had like a psychotherapy date or um and uh at the end of the psychotherapist was like, hey, I had a great time getting to know you all today, but there's someone here that's not here for the right reasons. Or they had something along those lines. And she says that and then they turn, she turns to me. And I just look at her and I go, all right, well, not really sure what that's about. But let's just go ahead and go to, to the after party or whatever. And then the show is like, hold on, stop.

Clayton. That's it. And I was like, I'm not really going to put much weight into that, guys. Like, I'm not really too concerned about it. I don't, I don't agree with what her assessment. They're like, no, you got to like, there's something amiss. I was like, no. Like, and so it was just like, that's what came up when you asked me that question was like, it.

Like, I'm like, no, you have to be, you know, more bothered by this than you are. And there was multiple times, I guess throughout the experience where I was like, guys, I also understand that I'm on a show and like people may be playing up some drop. and like, I just can't fake this. I'm not an actor. So whatever, like this seems petty. So I guess that would be an example of like a time where it just didn't seem like a big deal. But it led to a situation where it was Sarah that was she was telling the other girls that

I was going to choose her from the very beginning. And then those girls approached me because they were like, hey, she's saying these things. And I'm like, I don't believe it unless like the women tell me. And so then I had a few women that came up to me that I trusted that were like, she's been saying this all along. We almost left the house. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, like, y'all were about to leave. And so at that point, then I was like, what's going on?

Like, there's all this stuff that's happening behind the scenes that, like, I'm not privy to. And you're telling me that, like, four of the top, you know, women that were in my top 10 or whatever, four of them were said they were about to leave multiple times at the show because of what Sarah was saying. I was like, what is going on? Like, why am I not being informed about this? So, yeah, it was stuff like that. There was like always, I started to realize later in the show.

I'm like, stuff is happening, and I'm not being told. Because I guess I'm not there, so technically I shouldn't be told. But, like, also, I feel like I need to know if someone's about to leave. Clayton, there's a, and your season doesn't get credit for it. But I feel like there was a big storyline coming out of your season around sex. That wasn't as discussed as maybe other seasons that we think of when we think of physical intimacy. there was criticism based on how defensive you seemed

and watching it back you did seem defensive I don't know you could argue with me and say you weren't or it didn't seem like that but from the show standpoint it did seem like it when Susie was talking about her boundaries it was criticized publicly now watching it back and now being removed from it were you defensive

was that just what the show made it seem like what was your thoughts at the time as you sat. I think it was at a dinner table. Yeah. I mean, I think what you saw is what you saw. That was my reaction. I mean, that was my reaction of four hours in to a conversation. And it was in the last five minutes, you know, when I realized they're like, we got to go. You guys got to wrap this conversation up. And so as my back felled against the wall and everything felt like it was falling apart. And I started to question if, you know, if Susie was, you had ulterior motives. And I started basically getting in my head. And so those final five to ten

minutes. I was like, I, you know, I don't even know what I'm looking at anymore. I don't know who you are and I didn't want to hear anything else. I was like, it's over. Like, I didn't want to have that conversation on camera, but I didn't have a choice. It was like, I, I begged for us to take the fantasy suites and then have that conversation in private and was not able to happen. So at that point, I was like, okay, so I started then telling her in the best way that I could. This is what, you know, what happens. And then once I said it on camera, it was like it's out there right you know now i have to go tell the other women it's it's it's that's just there's no other way about you can sit here and say well he shouldn't say anything until you know the show aired i'm like why would i do that you know move forward with one of the other two women and go oh hey by the way we're together now something happened two and a half weeks so that you need to know about i'm like no everybody needs to be caught up with what transpired so uh i felt that

full transparency was the way to go um as far as like how i conducted myself in those final 10 minutes I got scrutinized. Yeah, I raised my tone. I even said, you know, hey, this is out of character for me. I'm not normally, you know, I don't normally raise my tone like this. You know, I think I got fed to the wolves. I'm like, I don't think I've, I know people, I'm not trying to compare. But at the end of the day, it was a four hour conversation.

The final 10 minutes, I lost my cool bit. And, you know, take accountability for that. People didn't like the way I reacted. But that's, I felt, you know, that I was, my back was against the wall and everything was slipping. And I was, you know, grasping at straws. And I was in a really uncomfortable spot. And so, you know,

yeah, I was just trying to say or do the right thing to keep her around and she wasn't willing to. And at that point, I felt like I was in a bad spot. I'm like, I'm going to lose her. And then I'm going to lose these other women tomorrow when I fill them in on what happened. It was a four hour conversation. What did the other four hours look like, sound like? They were fine. I mean, they were very cordial.

But then things started to just go sideways. And it wasn't shown, but it's like I just wanted. I did not want to have the conversation that was shown on camera. I was like begging to do it off camera. But we signed a contract saying that we are going to put everything on camera outside of fancy suite. So like I wanted to like, because again, it was out of respect. I also didn't feel comfortable talking about the other women and like putting it out

there, putting their business out there. But I didn't have a choice. So when I was started to realize like, you have to have this conversation. I'm like, okay, I have to navigate this and say the things and every word like could potentially give up more information than I want, but she needs to know what happened, because she asked me directly, have you expressed feelings of love or been intimate with the other women? And I was like, well, that's a direct question. I can't skirt around this. If I skirt around it, I'm going to be lying, you know, or air by omission, right? So I'm like, it's an indirect lie. And I was like,

you're not a liar. So I was, it was us going back and forth and trying to see if we can make it work and just like between us. And yeah, I mean, after just then she wasn't willing to, do the overnights and so that's where it was like guys wrap this up and that's where I was like all right here's the final 10 minutes and that was what was shown 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 okay story time 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. 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, Y. 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.

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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 U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history. The predictions will we see a first time winner and the pressure. Billy Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know. Plus, the stories and events off the court and, of course, the high. Honey Deuces, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event.

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It felt like watching it in this infamous series, is a lot about what's the secrets but behind the scenes, kind of pulling back the layer and getting to the real part. It felt like watching your season, it was shocking to me that production was able to keep you around.

I say that because it did feel like everything was going okay, and then these last, you know, week, two weeks, like it felt like every place you turned, and I'll just be honest, you couldn't make a good decision. And it was like you were going to get pounded from every side.

And there was no right like you were kind of saying decision you could make, including a comment Rachel made, which is a big accusation. It's a big question. So I want you to answer, kind of respond to this statement that she made. But then also if you can tie it into how was production encouraging you to even stick around after this kind of thing is being said. She said that you kept her around or you told her that you were in love with her because you wanted to sleep with her. that is a big accusation one of the biggest i think and again not talked about enough on the show that the show's ever had so how the production keep you around and what was your thoughts when this was being said to you knowing it was going to be aired at some point on national television well she said that on or at the live show i guess so um and i was prepped with a you're going to have at most 15 seconds to respond so when that was said to me i I said, no. I'm like, there's literally, I can't go into detail. This is a live show. I have to just deny this because it wasn't the joke anyways, but I understand that she was hurt. And

her and I have talked since and we've made amends. So, you know, I'm not, I'm not going to fault her for what she said. But I was basically told you 15 seconds for whatever she says. And so when she said that, my brain was like computing. And I'm like, there's literally nothing else you can say in this time frame other than no. That's not true. So I said that. And that was it. And, you know, was, it was very, you know, it sucked because then everyone online, you know, and this is still the narrative I see is like, Clayton just said what he needed to say to sleep with these women. And that was so false. Like, I didn't have to sleep with any of those women. And also like, listen, I've never claimed to be a saint. You know, I have a past. And I'll just say like I've

never, you know, it's not like I was desperate to finally be intimate with a woman like I'd never been before. So, you know, that was like the narrative that got spun was like Clayton saying whatever he needs to say to get these women in bed. And I'm like, that's ridiculous. Like, that's stupid. I just, if I was going to actually get engaged at the end of the show, which I opened my mind up to, I said, yeah, I'll do it. But if I'm going to get engaged, I need to make sure that we're sexually compatible.

That's just a, that's just, if we're going to walk out of here being boyfriend, girlfriend, like, then, yeah, I don't need to like be intimate. But if we're, I'm actually going to propose, and this is serious to me. I don't care, TV or not. Like, if I'm going to need to propose with a ring, this is serious. So I need to make sure there's sexual compatibility. So second, I made that decision that I was ready to get down on one knee. That's where I was like, okay, hey, I'm going to go explore these relationships fully.

And each of the women said that to me verbatim. I want you to explore the relationships fully. As I walked into overnights, that was said by all three of those women going into that next weekend. So I was like, okay, well, you're telling me to explore the relationships fully as I walk into overnights, I feel like we're without saying it, you're telling me what you're okay with. That's the assumption I made. And I don't know. Then based on their responses.

I guess it wasn't, you know, I took it the wrong way. But if you tell a man that, I think he perceives it a bit differently than a woman potentially, or at least I did. Yeah, this is tough stuff, Ben. What is your take? I mean, I think, well, one, I want to comment on the 15 seconds to respond. That is a just a spot-on scenario that happens on this show. Like, it just does.

Like, hey, we're going to put you on the live show. Just want to let you know, like, this is going to get kind of ugly for a bit. And you're going to have 15 seconds to say something to, like, like pretty much, like, complete the conversation. You're like, no, that's, so I just want to make note that for any listener as we talk about some of the behind the scenes here without breaking our NDAs. Like, that is a very common thing. It means it's very real.

It's not edited to make it look like it was only 15 seconds. No, you have 15 seconds to explain how much you actually cared about this person. That's the first thought. I think my thought as the lead is, as a former lead, when it comes to, fantasy Swedes and intimacy. I mean, I think Clayton, the only thing I would say was like you should have asked for not, for no other reason than mostly so that what happened at the end of your show didn't happen, like clarity. Like what do you exactly mean by that? Like, hey, this is, you know, very, a very like thrown up.

Like, I'm still kind of confused. I'm feeling things for all of you. Clarity probably wouldn't have been helpful there. And that's on you. Like, that's not a production thing. That's not an editing thing. That's on you as the lead to say. okay what do you think it happens in this situation right what are we good about here as a couple

yeah and you didn't and that's probably where the mistake was made and why the feelings were hurt i also think and i goodness gracious we love rachel so much on this podcast i think you had three really big personalities at the end of your season really strong outspoken people women and i think they were just going to say what they felt and what they were thinking, no matter what, because that's who they are as people. And I think you were the common denominating target. And I think it was a really hard situation for you to go through because you had three great people, but three big personalities that were outspoken. And that's tough. It's tough when two of them are going to be upset with, like really upset with you. Yeah. I mean, that's a good, I mean,

yes, they're very powerful personalities, each of them, each of them are doing, really well in their own ways. And some of them are, you know, really blown up in the reality TV world. And some are just making, you know, they're still doing really great with brand partnerships. But yeah, they're, I mean, you see like, they're still years later, very prominent in their respective fields. So it's, yeah, I mean, it's a good spot on assessment. And they, you know, were unapologetically themselves. And so when they had the moment, they're like, I'm going to speak my mind. And they did. And they had the right to do that. So, but you're spot on. Yeah, I also, accountability, I could have always asked more questions. And I've,

learn that so it's good see you're learning i think that sometimes the producers know the lead better than um sometimes the lead knows themselves at this point and they order the last three contestants in a certain way when it comes to fantasy suites to really mess with your mind i feel maybe just as a viewer i'll tell me if i'm wrong that like inside you knew that it was going to be Susie and then they intentionally made it so that she would be last that week to really mess with you. All right. I can talk about this part because they did let me. I said it on a podcast like two years ago and then I was like, you guys can cut that out and they left it in and production it cleared it. I can say this. Okay. The only was switched. Susie was supposed to be first.

And I said I wanted to go first because I was the most in love with her. And so I said, hey, I'm pretty certain unless she hits me with something political or she says something that's like a deal breaker in the fancy suites. And I even said, I'm not really political. But like if she, if there's something she says or does or if we have no sexual compatibility, like then I can move forward with the other two women, you know, because it's not meant to be. But if all goes well on the overnights, then I will, you know, basically end it right there. And so I was, yeah, most in love with her.

But I had love, you know, and with the. other women as well. It just wasn't as strong. At that point, I was like, I'm close to making a decision, but I guess the door is still open if things go wrong on overnights with Susie. And they weren't, they weren't going to have that. They said, no, we're putting her third. And so they said, you've kept an open mind. So keep an open mind with these women. And I, like, you know, I said, well, what happens if she's not okay with like what happens in the fantasy suite? It's like, well, they said that you should explore relationships fully. So I was like, okay, yeah, it's true so i'll do it i'll put her we'll put her third and they and that's what happens

see this is what we've kind of talked about is there is people will argue and we go back and forth on how much editing actually exists to make things look different than they are i always said the manipulation or this those that kind of like god scenario that production is looking down from a camera up above saying no we're going to move the puzzle piece here because we think this is how this story could play out. That happens a lot more. And I actually find it fascinating personally. I think it is it does make, as use of reference, good TV. Is it healthy? Is it fair? All those things we could argue and go back and forth on. However, it's the response of the people in the scenario that kind of make or break if their story is going to come out true or not or if it's going to come

not the way they want it to or not. Clayton, you, you went through this whole process. You lived it. We've talked about, you know, mostly with the final three, kind of the scenarios that existed. Also with Chenet a little bit at the beginning. When you were in it, was there ever a moment that you thought, oh my goodness, this is going to be really bad?

Like, I'm going to watch this back on national television. Yeah. And this is going to be. really bad or were you in it and you're like this is a beautiful love story coming true and like people are going to love to watch it no it flipped uh when i it was it was okay there was drama but it wasn't anything i felt like i couldn't recover from or that wasn't going it was going to be overwhelming um but at the point when i after gabby and rachel met my family and i made the decision to pursue Susie, even though she was gone at that moment.

There was a producer that was off camera, and they looked at me and said, if you do this, you will not be liked by at least half the audience. You will be hated. Like, you have, like, we can protect you. We've been able to protect you. But at this point, if you make this decision, we can no longer protect you. And my response verbatim was, I don't give a F. what people think I'm doing what's best for me and my heart is telling me to follow this.

And then they looked at me and said, okay, well, just know that from that from here on out, like we cannot protect you. And that was that. And I knew at that point, it was a very tense moment. It was a, and they yelled at me and I yelled back at them. And it was like, all right. And I made my decision. And that's when I knew I was like, yeah, this is going to probably be bad, you know,

because it was very tense. And at that point, there was not as much communication. amongst me and the producers it was the last you know that was what four days left in the season it was basically like let's just get to the finish line i hate you all you don't like me let's just finish this but then i was like clayton the danger is now you have pissed them off um and you're not on the same team anymore it feels like and now they can go edit a season so um you now you're at the mercy of whatever they choose to edit and what you've put out there but that yeah that moment was that's when i knew things were going to go south do you think that the edit

could have been romantic. Well, put it this way. I mean, and this is where, again, I give them credit. Had Susie went first in fantasy suites, let's just say I would have, you know, chosen her. The show would have been a boring-ass show. Instead, what everyone got was the ending that I, that was created, which was like, I would say, a very entertaining season and was very talked about. And yeah, I was, you know, painted as the villain and tact and all that.

But it made for really interesting television. And a lot of people talked about it from a standpoint of like show success. I know the show, you know, I was told the producers were all high five and at the after party at the end of it all. Like we just, you know, really put together a spectacle and they did. So, you know, like they did a great job. And at my expense, it's like, I got to take some accountability. It's like, I walked on that show and I was ignorant and was just like, oh, I'm just going to be me,

you know, and I was moldable and they easily puppeted around at points because I didn't have the confidence and self-love to put my foot down. So again, like I take accountability for that. Ultimately, yeah, there could have been a happy. I could have been, you know, I don't, I can't say I would have ever had like a golden, you know, Bachelor edit, like, you know, I don't, and the people didn't like me from the get go. They wondered why I was chosen. But they could have absolutely had an ending where, you know, Susie went first and the fantasy suites all went well, boom. Like, we could have walked out, you know, holding hands walking off into the sunset. And everyone's like, I didn't really love, like him as a bachelor, but whatever, they're happy. It could have been a completely different outcome. 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, 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. 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 official, writer 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, Y.

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 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. The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm Brickie.

down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history. The predictions will we see a first time winner and the pressure? Billy Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know. Plus, the stories and events off the court and of course the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential sporting event. I mean, listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not? Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about Icon Venus Williams' recent wild card bids?

Or the young Canadian, Victoria Mboko, making a name for herself? How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an Iheart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Culture eats strategy for breakfast. I would love for you to share your breakdown on pivoting.

We feel sometimes like we're leaving a part of us behind when we enter a new space, but we're just building. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us, I was joined by Volisha Butterfield, Media Founder, Political Strategist, and Tech Powerhouse for a powerful conversation on storytelling, impact, and the intersections of culture and leadership. I am a free black woman who worked really. really hard to be able to say that. I'd love for you to break down why it was so important for you to do C. You can't win as something you didn't create. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Belichia's journey is a masterclass in shifting culture and using your voice to spark change.

A very fake, capital-driven environment and society will have a lot of people tell half-truths. I'm telling you, I'm on the energy committee. Like, if the energy is not right, we're not doing it, whatever that it is. Listen to Culture Raises us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So you mentioned that we didn't really know you from Michelle's season, that you were plucked out of obscurity. Do you think that there's sometimes in their head, like I thought, oh, they can be more malleable. There can be more easily manipulated because they didn't get further along the Bachelorette process because there was you, there was Grant, and there was Matt James in recent memory who you were just kind of plucked you had no experience

and you know so you're just a play toy to them yeah yeah i mean i think that was absolutely a part of it in their decision making was for one okay he looks the part you know and and primarily they they they cast a lead of that's usually white and over six foot so i i hit those markers and then it was like oh but they i mean they psych evaled me i mean they did a full psych eval very very deep criminal background check. I mean, they knew me, like you said at one point earlier, better than I likely knew myself. And so they knew exactly what they were getting. You know, they're like, we got a guy that looks the part, but we can basically pull him into certain directions and scenarios. And it's going to, you know, if we need to, we can create chaos. And they did. And like, that's, I know for a fact that's half the reason they chose me. It was because they're like, this guy looks strong-willed and looks confident and looks the part, but like we can basically hop in his body and control him. And, and, and, and, and, And, you know, and I allowed them to. I mean, I basically didn't stand my ground at points when I could have because I was fearful of upsetting them and fearful of losing the role of the bachelor, fearful of, you know, yeah, basically being, you know, seen as a reject in their eyes. I wanted their approval, like I wanted the girl's approval, like I wanted the audience's approval.

So, you know, I did everything in my power to stay on their good terms. And there were points where I was like, hey, I don't really want to do this, but I don't want to piss them off. so you're uh it's a good point well i have two things to say one as i 100% know or i don't know i believe strongly they know us better than we know ourselves uh i've been in two scenarios behind the scenes in a production room where they have accurately predicted somebody's like big life choices spot on that that person would have never known they were going to choose like two years later yes uh and i was like oh that can't be true and then it happens and i'm like How did you guys know this?

This is very creepy. This is probably the part that I don't want to think about too much because it gets too Truman Show-esque. I was about to bring up Truman Show. I watched that and someone said, watch it, hi. And that's like my one vice is weed.

So, well, it's not my only vice. But I was like, okay, so I watched it. Oh, my gosh.

I was like, from that point forward, I was like paranoid. I'm like, yeah. Is that freaks out? Am I going to open up my door over here? And someone was going to run by like,

damn, They know something. Yeah, this is the deep state that everybody seems to be wanting to fight right now. It's the Bachelor world and whatever they know about us. There is something weird that they know somehow, some way. Oh, Ben, you're going down some. You're going down a path. But I'm kind of, I'm into AI and all that nerd and out and all this weird stuff.

Listen, that's a conversation for another time. But, yeah, there's, there's something. How did they know that I was going to do that? Yeah. Yeah, you're spot on, man. they can predict stuff because they psychoanalyzed us with some of the best minds in the in the in the business they had us you know basically talked to them every single day they had me to talk about my journal entries i mean everything i shared with them at all points you know so it's like they

knew exactly where i was at they knew the rankings of the women because it was like one to 30 where do each of these girls stand so you had a little bored you know and you're this thing that's moved from six to four it's like i had a uh i had like a little uh rolla decks of their pictures and they'd have me move the pictures around it's a harder but they gave me a court board too yeah yeah with the names yeah on it clayton you are one of we have the close here you are one of four bachelors since my time no three so you're one of three that did not ask any advice going into your season um so i think what has there been 10 nine of you so 10 nine of them yeah You are one of three who did not want any of my help, which is fine.

So the question is why did you not want maybe my help? But that would make sense if you asked other people for insight. And then I'd be like, that's great. But either you asked nobody or you didn't ask me. And maybe we could have prepped you, Bachelors of the past, to say, hey, don't be super malleable. Try to stay a foot like a step ahead of them. They're going to do this stuff.

You can put your foot down and say no. if you find yourself in a situation where all three are you know in the fantasy suites with you like here's maybe how you navigate it but you did i mean you did it with me so did you with anybody and if not why no the only person that i got advice from was michelle because they brought her on um like the first day of the show which they showed on like a youtube clip or the channel but never like i think they never put it on like the actual televised show um and she came and the advice

I think she gave me was just basically just be open or don't take things too seriously and just understand that like you're like it's hard you can't really give you advice it's kind of what she said it was like you're just going to have to your experience will be unique

from mine and you're your own unique person and your perspective will dictate the outcome of this show and I wanted her to give me like we'll give me actual line items of things that I need to watch out for and she was like I really can't because it could influence you. And, you know, basically it was like, you need to got to be you, right?

And so, and she gave me some other advice I can't remember. But that was the one that I was like, okay, like I, there's really no like hard and fast. Yeah, rule number one, don't do this. Rule number two, don't do this. But then it also came into play that I didn't ask other people because I, a couple things. I didn't want to be swayed by somebody. I was like, I want to go into this experience with like no influence. influence because I thought that like the producers who would be influencing you from the start

the only influence you wanted was from the production team influence me as much as they did subtly right like I wasn't aware of it because it was my first I never really watched the show I knew what it was but like I didn't know the behind the scenes so I was like I'll be able to you know you know navigate this environment but I don't want any type of influence I didn't know that they were going to be stepping in at points which you guys would have told me how to ask all that being said i would i'm glad it went the way that it went because it was that was the journey that was meant for me i am happy with who i am today i needed a waking up i needed to realize that like people will step in and take advantage of you and people like i needed to grow up

i needed to wise up you know i needed to become what i am today and i wouldn't have become that had I had, you know, been fed, you know, an incredible, you know, uh, experience on a silver platter, right? Like if I would have gotten, you know, the golden boy at it, like some bachelors do, um, you know, I were like, I'm like, I'm like, this is, he's the hero. Whatever. Like, if I would have gotten that, then I would have just kept going with my insecurity, my, the things that are my weaknesses and my, and things that needed

improvement, I would just never address. So instead, I had all of my weaknesses and areas improvement put under a microscope and blasted out for the entire universe to critique me on. and that's where I was like, cool, okay, I'm, I, I lack emotional intelligence. Okay, well, I guess I should go acquire it. So I went and did that. And I did lack emotional intelligence. I grew up with two brothers, no sisters.

We never talked about our emotions in my household. It was a, my dad was old school. Love them to death, you know, but like we grew up in an old school environment. So like, I had no emotional intelligence. I only had one girlfriend prior to that show. So like I was not well versed on how to interact with like women, you know, as much as I wanted to be. So like, but none of that would have ever come to light had I, you know,

basically walked out of there and had a big old pat on the back and looked like, you know, the hero of the show. No, it's like I needed to be all that stuff to be highlighted. And it was. So I'm glad it went the way that it went. I think you would offer me great advice. I just made the decision to not let anyone influence me. So I take, I take nothing per. I just wondered as you were talking. I was like, you know, what could have helped you here? I mean, it would have a nice like Sean Lowe call to say, hey, buddy. Like, how do I do this? Yeah, you know, but most people don't call me your advice. So that's,

which is funny. But they do call me when things go wrong. That's the funny thing. It's like when you want to go to talk to somebody about, you know, how do I deal with this adversity?

I'm like, I'm your guy. Yeah. Who's your publicist? Better dramatic than boring. Yeah, life management company. Give me the name.

Clayton, we really appreciate you coming on today. Thanks for talking about your time on the show and some of these big scenarios that, you know, were hard to break down maybe when they were immediate

and like, right afterwards you can't just say like yes this is where my mind was at or maybe this is what I didn't like or like or this is what production was telling me I think it's really good for the listener here's the hope that the listeners now tune in to the show and know it a little better but as we said this is a whole new production team we don't know what the show is going to look like from here on now it might be unrecognizable to all of us but wait see hey Clayton thanks for coming on infamous thanks guys Clayton. See you in paradise. 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 each other, but I just want or 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. Rider 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 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's the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Hi, I'm Jennifer Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomfit 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Our IHeart Radio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas. September 19th and 20th. On your feet. Streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Adams, Ed Shearrett, Fade, Chlorilla, Jelly Roll, John Fogarty, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mariah, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McCray, the Offspring, Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com. Get your tickets today. AXS.com. This is an I-Heart podcast.