The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - More Rent Free Moments from Bachelor Nation

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Your favorite superstars from Bachelor Nation join us to share the moments from Bachelor history that will never​ leave their mind! Hear unforgettable stories from Kathy Swarts, OG Bachelorettes Trista Sutter and DeAnna Pappas, the icon Bob Guiney, and the new generation of Bachelor Nation Daisy Kent and Mercedes Northup!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsin. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this.

It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different.

Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cuthurban.com. Please enjoy responsibly. I know he has a reputation,

but it's going to catch up to him. Gabe Ortiz is a cop. His brother Larry, a mystery Gabe didn't want to solve until it was too late. He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the cause? Took us under his wing

and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry's killed, Gabe must untangle the dangerous past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the brothers Ortiz, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened?

My sister was y'all 22 times. A police officer, right? But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law until we came together to take him down.

I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. I got you. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I got you. What are the cycles fathers pass down that sons are left to heal? What if being a man wasn't about holding it all together, but learning how to let go? This is a space where men speak truth and find the power to heal and transform.

I'm Mike Della Rocha. Welcome to Sacred Lessons. Listen to Sacred Lessons on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts with IHart Radio. Hey, it's been here on the Almost Famous Podcast. And the end of the year is around the corner. So we're talking with more Bachelor Nation alum about those moments from the show that will never leave their mind. So let's check in with Kathy Swartz, Mercedes, Northup, and Deanna Stagliano.

Okay, Deanna and Mercedes, I wanted to ask you this for a while, what is the Bachelor moment that lives rent-free in your head? What do you think, Deanna? What's yours? That one time, a Bachelor didn't choose anyone. changed the trajectory of my life, clearly. But it does. Like, he's, he's the one guy. You have, you have 25 to 30 girls there and you couldn't pick anyone. It says more about him than it does me. There you go. Or maybe it says a lot about me, y'all. Who was it? Who was the guy? Brad Oh. Yeah. Yeah. I bumped into him in Austin. He lives here. He's so wonderful. I'm joking. It does liverent free in my head. He's still single. He's still single. I'm, well, I saw.

Well, it's to be... Maybe not. I thought he was. To interpretation, but he's a great guy. He's a great guy. It does live rent-free in my head, though, because I've always thought that. And I've never gotten that answer from him. We stayed friends for a long time. But it was like, I don't know, man.

You have 25 to 30 women there, and you couldn't pick anyone. Like, you don't want to marry them, but, like, you didn't see anything in anyone that you might want to go on a second date in real life. Like, you didn't want anyone. I don't know why that's always... But obviously, thankfully, he did not. Or he wanted everyone and couldn't just choose one. No, I don't think so.

I don't think that was him. Glass half full there. No, no. But you know what is odd? Because then when I became the Bachelorette, when I went to the end of my season, ultimately, when it was done, I thought, oh, I kind of wish I would have done the same thing. You know, you get to know people. And then I forced a relationship.

I picked a guy who I thought that I loved. And then within, within days, you guys, I was like, oh, crap. Oh, crap. So looking back, I mean, hindsight. side is always 2020, but I kind of wish I would have done the same thing. Damn, I wish I had the opportunity. Everything brings us to where we are. What about you, Mercedes?

Oh, my gosh. I feel like there's so many, but one that lives rent free in my head. And it's because it made the bloopers. If it didn't make the bloopers, I probably would be like, oh, that was so fun, but it wouldn't, like, live rent free in my head. So basically, and you guys can attest to the relationship with the women. Like, it is friendships that you can't even describe. because you're in a situation together

and you just get so close, so fast. But obviously, you know, you're being filmed, but we had one night where I feel like we all just completely forgot that there was cameras around. And we were all, we were listening to music, just hanging out, and someone was like, all right, who can teach us, like, how to twerk?

And I was like, I can. So we had a full on. Like, I literally taught the girls how to twerk. And it was so funny. It was so fun. Again, we completely forgot the camera. cameras around. And then at Women's Hill All, we did the bloopers. And that was a twer was in there. A twerks. I could listen. If you want to step back, I could use a good lesson myself.

For us big booty girls, I could I could use a solid lesson. I was like, there is no way this is making national television right now. Like, this is actually insane. And now for anyone who had forgotten Mercedes, you've just brought it back to the forefront of all. I know. Yeah. So we're going to have, Kathy, we're going to have to find this video and use this as a promotional clip for this episode. Mercedes just, just popping it. This twer is looking for the man of her dreams. Here you go.

Check her out. She loves Jesus and she also knows how to work. And she also gets to work. Oh, my gosh. Okay, mine, I got to tell you, mine that lives rent free in my head and my children, unfortunately, there's two lives rent free in their head, is me doing a body shot on parents. This past summer off of CK, who was one of the guys on Jones season. I didn't know what a body shot was.

I thought that was like a punching bag. I literally had no idea. And I had no idea. So that will forever live, my first and last body shot, hopefully ever in my life. But the sweet one, because I never forget what Patswell is about. And it's about love and hope and connection and something that we all want. And I got to tell you, I have not watched every season of Bachelor, but the one that the proposal

that stands out for me is Sean and Catharines. And they're married now with what? I don't think three kids, but I'll never forget the look on her face. First of all, I thought she was so beautiful anyway. And I just, the fact that they are happily married and together to me was so evident in that proposal, you know, the way he said, I'm going to tell you, I love you every day. And the look of raw emotion on both of their faces, I honestly, there's been lots of great proposals, but that, that one, and I can't wait to meet them. I've never met them, but I'll meet them

on the, on the cruise coming up in November. I can't wait to meet them. I, that for me was, I want some guy to say that, have that look in his eyes to me. Yeah. You know, some people, I think it's just in their destiny to go on the show. and to meet their person and live happily ever after. And you are right, Kathy. I think Sean and Catherine were a great example of that. Jason and Molly, too. There are several good stories, but I just find that interesting how we all went on there

and maybe we didn't find our forever after, but some people did. Some people, that was their path. And that's believing, believing that can work. And I believe that that can work. So, you know, I just love that. I, I'm a, I'm a weirdo. I've gone back and watched that, uh, proposal. No, really, because it's just like, yep, it can happen.

It can happen for that. Oh, that's sweet. Oh, it's sweet. So it is. Bachelor Bob Guinea. All right. So when I think of Bachelor moments in history that basically will forever be etched in my brain, um, I have many of my own, of course, uh, you know,

my experiences on Trista's season, and then, of course, when I was The Bachelor. But one that really stands out for me that is above and beyond is the moment where Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi took their breakup on a one-hour special, where Chris Harrison sat down with them and asked, you know, what's going on, guys? Can we talk about what's going on with your relationship? And it turned into something that I don't think anyone was anticipating. and it became a pretty unbelievable moment. I've gotten to know Jake over the years,

and he's actually a very nice guy, but man, in this moment, I remember thinking this poor dude, who would have agreed to this? Like, oh, my God. He went on a show, and he starts to try and tell his version of events to Chris as to why he and Vienna are breaking up. And Vienna chimes in, you know, as one would in a conversation. And he's like,

stop interrupting me. Oh my God. She melts down. She gets up and leaves. He's there and he's like, see, she's just always interrupting. You know, like just, it was insanity. Absolute craziness. And I remember thinking to myself that it had to be the biggest train wreck in television

history, at least for me watching it. And I'll never forget it. And as long as I swear, as long as I talk about The Bachelor stuff and think about my memories that I have, I usually have those pretty rosy moments, all puns intended, but I also think about how it could have gone. And this was where you would never want it to go. So my moment is the Jake in Vienna, Battle Royale, breakup interview. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse

and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's Attorney General is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't.

occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry. And this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of, you know, developing the profile of this beautiful finished product.

With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentleman's cut bourbon.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Dad had the strong belief that the devil was attacking us. Two brothers, one devout household, two radically different paths.

Gabe Ortiz became one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officers in Texas. 32 years, total law enforcement experience. But his brother Larry, he stayed behind and built an entirely different legacy. He was the head of this gang, and nobody was going to tell him what to do. You're going to push that line for the cause. Took us under his wing and showed us the game. as they call it. When Larry is murdered, Gabe is forced to confront the past he tried to leave behind

and uncover secrets he never saw coming. My dad had a whole other life that we never knew about. Like, my mom started screaming my dad's name, and I just heard one gunshot. The Brothers Ortiz is a gripping true story about faith, family, and how two lives can drift so far apart and collide in the most devastating way. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts

or wherever you get your podcasts Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? I just fell and started screaming If you lost someone you loved in the most horrific way I said through with y'all 22 times The police, right?

But what if the person you're supposed to go to for help is the one you're the most afraid of? This dude is the devil He's a snake. He'll hurt you. I got you. I got you. I got you.

I'm Nikki Richardson, and this is The Girlfriends, Untouchable. Detective Roger Golubski spent decades intimidating and sexually abusing black women across Kansas City, using his police badge to scare them into silence. This is the story of a detective who seemed above the law until we came together to take him down. I told Roger Galuski, I said you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

You know the shade is always Shadiest right here. Season 6 of the podcast Reasonably Shady with Jazele Bryan and Robin Dixon is here dropping every Monday. As two of the founding members. members of the Real Housewives Potomac, we're giving you all the laughs, drama, and reality news you can handle. And you know we don't hold back. So come be reasonable or shady with us each and every Monday. I was going through a walk in my neighborhood. Out of the blue, I see this huge sign next to somebody's house. Okay. The sign says, my neighbor is a Karen.

Oh, what? No way! I died laughing. I'm like, I have to know. You are lying. Humongous, y'all. They had some time on their hands. Listen to reasonably shady from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Sutter and Daisy Kent. Hi, everybody, it's Trista, and I am here with Daisy Kent, and we are going to share the moments that live rent-free in our head from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and all of our Bachelor experiences. So, Daisy, why don't you go first? What is your rent-free moment that lives in your head? Okay, I have a few, but I would have to say one that I always think of is Ari's season, just because I feel like the end was so messy.

I mean, everyone definitely ended up, like, happy how it should be. And, like, everyone's happily married and has kids now. But I just remember watching that with my mom. And we were both like, like jaw on the floor. Totally. Yes, you're so right. So what happened? Yeah, explain for the people who may not recall it as well as we do, what happened at the end of our season.

And I remember I was very invested in this season because I loved Lauren on the show. But then Becca was also from Minnesota. And so I was like, okay, Minnesota girl love her too. So I was like very invested in it. And then he basically, he picked Becca, but then decided like later he actually wanted to be with Lauren after he had proposed to Becca. She like had a ring. So then he broke up with her, got back together with Lauren. and then he proposed, I think, to Lorna after the final rose.

But then Becca became The Bachelorette. I mean, it all truly works out as it should. But it was dramatic, like really dramatic, because I think he broke up with Becca on camera. Like, I remember them sitting on that couch. It might have been at her apartment or something. Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

It was, and Becca didn't see it coming. Yeah. at all, right? I don't think so. Yes. I think that's happened like three times, hasn't it? Well, Jason Mesnick and Molly and Melissa Rycroft. So he ended up with Melissa and then after the final rose, he was questioning, like,

is this relationship right for me? And basically they broke up on stage. And then Molly came out. And I can't remember if he asked her at that point. I don't think he asked her at that moment to date. But I think right after the show, he was like, would you guys want to, would you, sorry, would you want to, you know, re-invest in this relationship?

And she went for it. And obviously they're happily married for, I don't know, 15 at least years later. So. Yeah. Yeah. And then I remember to, and then pilot Pete Peter Weber he picked or him and Hannah Ann got engaged and then he got

and then he they broke up and then he wanted to be with Maddie Pruitt and then I think they broke up too yes yes that was that was messy that was messy and then of course you throw in his mom and wow it was like fireworks like you could not turn away. It was totally a train wreck, you know, on stage. Um, okay, I have to ask the question. Are rent free moments like dramatic? Can they be positive moments or is it just like jaw on the floor like you can't believe it's happening moment? Funny. Anything funny. Dramatic. Loving. Okay, good. Loving. Thank you. That's my keyword. So my rent free moment. I have a, I have a couple too. I mean, I've watched every season, so I don't know how you can't have a couple.

But very clearly, they have to be related to my story because that's the most powerful story to me. And I have to say, the funny one for me, I'll share both, the funny one for me was we were at the Space Needle in Seattle on our overnight date. Yeah. And we were having dinner at the restaurant up there. and Ryan hadn't watched the show and I'm reading the card from Chris Harrison

if you'd like to forego your individual sweets and use this key you know blah blah blah he was like check please and didn't even like I didn't even finish the card he was like okay that's all I need to hear let's go it was so cute

he was so funny I love that and I was and so many people still comment like if there's ever If I ever post anything about us, there are constantly people who are like, but check, please comment. I love that. So that was so funny.

And then, of course, the night we got engaged because, and I have to say, from what I understand, I think 31 million people watch our engagement, which is crazy town numbers. That is crazy. So I know a lot of, I would assume a lot of people maybe share the sentiment. But, yeah, it was the first time I really told him that I was in love with him. Yeah. And just to, you know, have it, as Chris Harrison has put it long, a long time ago, it was lightning in a bottle. Like, it truly was.

It was like, oh, wow. Like, this is, this is it. He's my forever. I found him. And I was the happiest I've ever been besides birthing my children and at my wedding. Yeah. Aw, I love that, Trissa. Yeah, so there's my rent-free moments.

I mean, there's so many others. Yeah, there's so many. So many. But it's been a long time. I mean, this show has been on the air since 2002. It has its great moments. Great reality TV. Great reality TV, that's for sure.

Okay, thanks, everybody. There's our rent-free moments for you. That was a lot of great moments. Makes me want to go back and re-watch some of these. during the holiday break. This has been so much fun. I think next, Ashley and I need to share the moments that live rent-free

in our heads. Until then, I've been Ben. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsin. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville,

tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product with every sip you get a little something different visit gentlemen's cut bourbon dot com or your nearest total wines or bevmo this message is intended for audiences 21 and older gentlemen's cut bourbon boon county kentucky for more on gentlemen's cut bourbon please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon dot com please enjoy responsibly i know he has a reputation but it's going to catch up to him Gabe Ortiz is a cop his brother larry a mystery gave didn't want to solve until it was too late.

He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the cause? Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry's killed, Gave Must Untangle a Dangerous Past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened?

What's a through shot 22 times? A police officer, right? But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law until we came together to take him down. I said, you're going to see my face to the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Dr. Lari Santos from the Happiness Lab here. It's the season of giving, and this year my podcast, The Happiness Lab, is partnering with Give Directly, a nonprofit that provides people in extreme poverty with the cash they need as part of the PODS Fight Poverty campaign. Our goal this year is to raise $1 million, which will bring over 700 families out of extreme poverty. Your donation will put cash directly in the hands of these families in need, and they'll get to decide how to use it, whether that's school transportation,

purchasing livestock, or starting a business. Plus, if you're a first-time donor, your gift will be matched by giving multiplier, which means more money for those in need. Visit givedirectly.org slash happiness lab to learn more and to donate. That's give directly.org slash happiness lab. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.