The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Navigating Feelings While Married To Someone Else with Real Housewives Jennifer Pedranti and Ryan Boyaijian

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

RHOC Jenn Pedranti and her Fiance Ryan are setting the record straight on how they navigated their feelings when they initially met while Jenn was married.    Plus, the couple spills on wedding plans and which cast members would be invited to their big day.   Email us at: [e-mail] or call us at 844-4-I Do Pod (844-443-6763)Follow I Do, Part 2 on Instagram and TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And DeVal, the host of the Ellis Ever After podcast. This holiday season, tune out the noise and tune in to Ellis Ever After. On Ellis Ever After, we get real with our crew about family, love and marriage, and everything else in between. Listen to Ellis Ever After on America's number one podcast. Podcast Network, IHeart. Follow Elizabeth Rafter and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. 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. 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. Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my podcast called Playing Along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different, but it all involves music and conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Leve, Mavé, Mavis Staples, Emmy Wolf, Jeff Tweedy, really too many to name.

And this season, I've sat down with Black Pumas, Alessia Kara, Sarah McLaughlin, and more. Check out my new episode with John Legend. I feel like, in a lot of ways, our careers are paralleled in some ways, but they just never intersected for some reason. I know. We should take it slow. We're just ordinary people. We don't know which way you go.

Listen to Nora Jones is playing along On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody, it's Chuck and Josh from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, and it's that time of year again when we knuckle down to do our annual holiday episodes. We collected our best past classic holiday episodes

and compiled them into a 12 days of Christmas toys playlist that the whole family can enjoy. That's right. Maybe you missed it the first time we detailed the history of Beanie Babies, Monopoly, or Yo-Yo's and a whole lot more. So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, guys. It is your celebrity mentor, Jen Fessler, and guess what? I am bringing back my dear friend, Jen Padilla. Antry and Ryan from Housewives of Orange County. Let's dive back into our convo with them. So give me a couple tips, guys, for people going through divorce or separation right now. You know, I'll give you a little bit of a nugget that I don't think anyone on the show knows

and I don't think it's made its way onto the show about Jen and I. Jen doesn't even know what I'm going to say here. I applaud Jen and I'll speak through my lens. I was not faithful in my marriage and there was infidelity. the minute Jen, this is a really cool and makes me emotional, the minute Jen and I went past, hi, how are you, nice to meet you? You know what Jen did? She went home and told her husband. Yeah. Yeah. There was no like, we held hands first, we kissed first, we had sex first, and she got caught. That's what you would think by watching the show. Jen wears the

scarlet letter A, but none of that is what happened. Their marriage was three years. years failed at this point. I would say, you know, just hanging on because of situational COVID. Well, I was scared and I had kids. And so when I, when I knew this man was like, I just looked forward to a conversation that I knew I shouldn't look forward to, right? I'm like, why am I excited to run into him at the gym? Why do I love, like, texting with him? I am looking forward to this. I remember I went home and I just told Will, like, I told him about Ryan. He's like, who is this guy? I'm like, I don't know. Like, I really don't know, but something is waking up

and something is so wrong here. Well, yeah, I get that. Well, two things. First, Jennifer, I don't see any scarlet letter anywhere near you. So let's get. If there's a scarlet letter on you, there's a scarlet letter on pretty much all of us. Okay, so that's the first thing.

But the second thing is, Ryan, would you suggest that as a tip to tell people that are going through or divorce or you would say you share that? I mean, it's that realistic, though, Ryan? I wouldn't have said that. at 40. But where I sit today with what my kids have had to experience. And, you know, I can't blame their mom at the time for using that against me. And Will has done that again to an extent. So I could have avoided that. I could have helped protect my kids.

You have to say before, even if you're thinking outside the box, you're saying, be a bigger person. Yes. Have the hard conversation because it makes the road way less bumpy. It does. It just not only that, not only for the sake of the process that a divorce takes from separation to divorce, but there's so much the emotional dragage and baggage that you get along the way where Jen was able to, what I would say do it the right way. Mine was probably the more instinctive. Just do it and face the consequences later. And looking back now, I just wish I was a more stand-up guy. I knew I wasn't happy in the relationship. shift, I knew it wasn't long term. We had tried therapy counseling at the end of the day. And like I started with, it was still on me. And I wish I would have been a better partner, a better father, a better human being.

And I expected more of myself. So today would be different. Because doing what you want to do and apologizing later is very painful, even whenever it's ending. So you're saying your advice to men, I'm assuming, or I guess women too, is if you're going down the path and you think there's something else out there to have the hard conversation first, let that person respectfully know and go before you selfishly fulfill. I would say yes, but before all of that, I'd say turn over every stone at home. And if you feel like there is not another option and something else is piquing your interest

and or just playing the field is piquing your interest or not being married as piquing your interest, take care of that step before the other door opens, whatever that door looks like. Yeah. No, I think that's great advice. I think that our listeners probably do know this because not all of them, but a lot of them have been through divorce and not just divorce. A lot of our listeners have been widowed. But divorced, they say, is you leave, you finally get divorced when you can't do anything else where the money doesn't matter. And not that the kids don't matter, but you know there is no other alternative here. Like you can't live like this anymore because divorce is hard. right um yeah you know i would say something jen i'm what nine years divorce now i know my ex heather still has emotional scarring and emotional pain even though i would say our marriage was like done how would you know that's why if you ask me the number one reason why i do it different is that i've

still left some carnage emotionally some baggage for her that 10 years later to a level one out of 10 or a level two or 20 out of 10, she still carries all because of my selfish actions or my inability to be, um, face my own conflict and be an adult. So that's why I would change it. There's a multitude of other reasons beneath that, but to know I can look back and say, Heather and I are nine years divorce and I know she still has pain for the way it ended because of the way I chose to do it. That is the reason why I change it. And listen, Jen, with as admirable as it is that you went to Will and said, this is what's going on with me. And listen, there are so many, many things about you that I find admirable.

I'm sure he has some scarring. I mean, it's still a little early on and some, you know. When I went to Will and I said, I got to tell you something. And I told him about this guy named Ryan at the gym. Will did this thing where he would kind of laugh at me. And he did it. He laughed. And I remember thinking like, that's funny to you.

Like, I'm actually telling you. something that should be like, you should be on the grave. You love me. Like, what are you telling me right now? And then it just, it was validating for me, Jen, because from that point on, it wasn't even about Will and I. He wanted to, it was all just about who he was. So, you know, I try, I kind of did the right thing. Kind of didn't. I still did what I wanted to do. Do you have any tips specifically, Jen, besides, so anything that you would suggest to all this I would just say for, for people going through a divorce, what are my tips?

Just one. Just one. If you can. stay friends and co-parent, it's the best thing for the kids because the one person that, the people that lose out and divorce, like Will and I are better off, but our kids lost out. So I would do anything to co-parent. And I think if I could give any tips or advice for anybody going through divorce, put yourselves aside and do the best you can to co-parent for your kids. I mean, I think that is everything. I think that one of the reasons Jeff and I were able to get back together is because for both of us with our kids, like there's one specific time. I remember, my daughter call me. I was in the car. I feel like I've told this

on the pod before, but she called me and she was complaining about Jeff and Daddy, you know, for whatever it was. And I was like, honey, you called the wrong number. I have no interest in like hearing you be disrespectful about your father. And so

sorry. And you know, he was great about that as well. And I would that, if you have kids to me, that is such great advice. That's great advice. And even if you don't want to because you you know, hate your ex's guts, it comes back to you because you see your kids happier and healthier and all of that. Yeah. I agree with that, Jen. All right. So quick, some specifics,

you guys that I have to ask. You know that. So you don't have a date yet or at all. Do we have any idea? Okay. I'm dying. We're at BravoCon. We're at BravoCon. And everybody is like, when are you getting married? When are you getting married? Day two of BravoCon. Everybody was coming up. I'm so excited about March. I can't wait for March. And I'm like, what is happening in March? He goes, I'm so sick of being asked about the date. I'm just telling everybody it's March. Okay, Ryan.

So apparently. There's so much easier. Just say that. Yeah. We're going to March. Yeah. No, but in all seriousness, you guys don't, you seem casual about the actual, like, you're together.

There's no doubt that you have committed to each other. We talk about getting married for the kids, truly. I mean, we want to be married. But we're home. We're in this home together with all of our children. We're doing life together. But I just want my kids and his kids to know, like my step parents are together and it's not just some like hey mom and i may be moving in

six months if something happens with her and ryan so we've been saying jen like we need all these kids around and we're finding like it's impossible i like literally cannot get a time with dawson and the marines and the two boys graduating college and um new job possibly in georgia going across the country for one of our boys we're going to figure it out and i promise i'm sorry excuse me where are you going you a job in george you joined housewives of atlanta no no no no my oldest Oh, I think he said in your job in Georgia. I'm like, okay, what am I missing? No, no, no.

But when we know, obviously, Jen, you will know for sure. Okay, friends, real talk. You are worth the wait. We've all been there, giving our energy to connections that didn't honor ours and watching friends do the same. And honestly, we all deserve better. That's why Bumble is built for intentional dating. Safety is such a big deal for us all, especially when meeting new people.

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So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist on the Outer, Hi Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A couple more specifics, and you can choose to answer or not, but I'll have to ask a question. Do you guys believe in pre-nups? Yeah, we do. We do. I won't ever be in the position. I've been left in, and I'm just grateful that Ryan sees that for what it is.

And so we actually talk about it very openly, very openly, very often. I mean, not very often, but when we're like, if we're going to get married, we need to get these things in place and we talk about it. Listen, I was, we didn't have a pre-up. I was, you know, I was young, but I would only tell, you know, people our age, especially on part two, get that in writing it, not because you're not going to be together forever. It's just, I feel like it's that's what he says. Yeah. Sometimes I'm the female and I'm like, but what are you saying? He's like, oh my God, stop. I'm not saying that, but we are going to be smart about this. I think for men and women, it's different to some degree, though.

I think we look at things as, for me, this is a dot in the eyes crossing the T's. There's zero emotion involved in it for me. It's just a simple function of finances, and those usually don't bring emotional side. I think for you, that's where we differ, right? When Jen hears pre-knap, when we talk about specifics, it makes her say, is there a plan to the end? Because then why would we be talking about this? And I said, well, you've added an element that we're just simply talking about a legal document. That's it.

And then I give her this example. I'm 49 and I've had life insurance for years. And I tell her, well, you should be saying to me, do you plan on dying? I'd say, well, no, not for 30 plus years. But I still have to do the financial piece of the puzzle. Right? So it's like same thing with a pre-nip. Why are you doing a pre-nup if you're not planning to get divorced?

Well, the same reason I get life insurance. I'm not planning on dying tomorrow, you know, but I still have to do the financial. piece. And I think you could structure a pre-up so that, Jen, you don't feel insecure about it. So, I mean, because you've spoken very openly about finances, you know, on the show. And I know that you are, you have struggled. And I'm not telling you both what to do. But I think that pre-nups can be formatted so that, you know, everyone feels more comfortable, right? So that's, that's just my two cents. But I get, I get how you would feel that way. I just would tell all of my friends, no matter what the, the differences were in terms of finances to people going in. We're too old, in my humble opinion, to deal with that. The answer is yes. We believe in. Yeah.

All right. So now just some cheesy questions that I can't help myself also at asking. So if the wedding is March, who from the cast is invited? Well, obviously, if we did it on the show, I think I'd have to have everybody. I mean, the only person I ever sit in a weird spot with, unfortunately, is Tamara. Right. It's, I haven't talked to Katie in so long that I don't. I don't know how actually Katie reached out to me after BravoCon get out she did she text me after

bravo con and just said you know what I I thought we would connect at Bravo con and I would like to get together and talk and I and I I can see at some point Katie and I possibly needing a conversation um I've known tam was so long that I I'm neither at the spot gen where I'm really ready to have that conversation that where both of us are going to show up and be very brutally on it. about what the hell has happened within this friendship or just loving her from afar and that being fine. So who

would come to the wedding if it was just Ryan and I on our own? Right now I'd say everybody but Tamara and Katie and that's not a isolate them. That's just because I don't have a relationship with them right now. Yeah, yeah. No, I get it. Listen, you're going to

I'm thinking that you're going to have to resolve things because you're going to be working together again soon. But don't comment on that. We're not looking for anything about those specifics. That is my guess. It's so funny, and this is off subject, but being at BravoCon now and getting to know

women from other franchises and just liking them, like, you know, I got to know Katie a little bit. Tamara and I have been friends for so long, and it's so, it's not that sticky, because I feel like people are, we're grownups and we understand that. And loving you so much and, you know, but it's weird because you see, what goes down on the show. And you love your friends and you hate to see it, but you do sort of develop these other relationships. They go, you know, in and out. But whatever. That's what I love

about women like you, Jen, because I, I don't, I could walk into a room and see you, Katie, and Tamara, all at a table together. And I'm not like, oh gosh, is Jen going to change the way she feels about me? Because I know you're not that kind of a girl. And you know what? I would still sit here today and say, I'm so happy that you have a friendship with Tamara and Katie, because guess what? I saw the best of Katie for almost two years. I love that wholeheartedly. And I would tell you, before I was ever on this show, I thought Tamara and Eddie were like one of the best couples I ever knew. And so you're seeing a side of these women that I saw. And how could you not be drawn to them? I also see the show and I see, you know, everybody and what goes down and women can be

mean and I see the awful things that happen and that's not just I'm not to talk about Tamara Katie I'm talking about all the franchises all the women so you know you're watching that and you see a friend of yours get hurt and you're not you know immune to to that but um yeah I'm not on the show so I do see the really good sweet warm sides when I'm with these people not again I'm not to talk about Tamara and Katie anyway that's not what this is about this is about uh part two your part two. I really am happy for you guys. I really hope that you get to show more of this.

And it's so impressive and heartwarming. And I mean that truly. You know, I don't feel like everybody, you know, it's, everything is salacious on the show. And that's why I was a viewer, my, you know, since the beginning, because I love this shit, can't help it. Just do, right?

It's like, I watch every Housewives episode on every franchise, you know, forever. But I just think that this is so, it just hasn't been shown, showcased, and it's special. That's the way I feel about it. Thank you, Jen. You know, it's interesting from my side. You know, Jeff Pessler knows this. Yeah.

And Jeff's different, right? Because your guys show the men are more involved and engaged. For us, we're like ancillary piece in the back and should stay that way. I learned my lesson. We should stay in the back. Yeah. I would say it's a bummer because we'll still get comments of, oh, he's going to this, Jen, Jen, be careful.

Jen, watch out for Ryan. It's like, we've been together five years. We laugh. Our seven kids, we all live under one roof going on year three. We're the sole financial, emotional support system for Jen's five kids. Yeah. So it's, you know, it's funny because the commentary comes in, like we're a brand new relationship. And Jen, be careful, there's red flags. Yet we're, you know, nearing year six.

Yeah. And all of us integrated. We look at each other saying like, gosh, it's so, it's a bummer selfishly that our relationship. Don't you feel like you get more love though now? I feel like, I feel like. Definitely. Yeah. It's just a bummer that I think if they were to show our real relationship. Yeah. I don't know. I think there's a lot more to offer on that side than the, you know. I think it's that they don't show our real relationship. I think it's more fun to show Ryan like trying to get me in a bikini and slapping my ass or whatever even though they don't know that we're actually just very boring and on the couch watching you know Netflix right right right right I love you guys thank you for doing this I really appreciate it yeah I hope we get a lot of listeners I really do I mean

we do we do pretty well but this one is this is a good one so I've had like a few we want some harder questions yeah next time he's ready for something all right remember what you wish careful what you wish for I'm happy for okay listen you had this was not I don't think this was like walk in the park. I don't think it was, you guys were very honest. So I don't know how much harder it could be, but I'll work on it. No. We're just, yeah, we're grateful to be here with you. Yeah. Love you both. I'll talk to you. Okay. Bye. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. So thank you guys for being so open. Chapter two is not always perfect. But you guys are a great example that you can find love after a difficult situation. Are you ready to find love in your chapter two? Call us or email us.

All of the info is in the show notes. We are here to help. Follow us on socials make sure to rate and review the podcast i do part two an i heart podcast where falling in love is the main objective and tune in to Ellis Ever After. On Ellis Ever After, we get real with our crew about family, love and marriage, and everything else in between. Listen to Ellis Ever After on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Ellis Ever After and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today.

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. 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. Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my podcast called Playing Along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together

in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different, but it all involves music in conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Leveh, Mavis Staples, Remy Wolf, Jeff Tweedy, really too many to name. And this season, I've sat down with Black Pumas, Alessia Kara, Sarah McLaughlin, and more. Check out my new episode with John Legend. I feel like in a lot of ways our careers are paralleled in some ways,

but they just never intersected for some reason. I know. Listen to ordinary people. We don't know which way you go. Listen to Nora Jones is playing along on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody, it's Chuck and Josh from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, and it's that time of year again when we knuckle down to do our annual holiday episodes. We collected our best past classic holiday episodes and compiled them into a twilight. 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist that the whole family can enjoy.

That's right. Maybe you missed it the first time we detailed the history of Beanie Babies, Monopoly, or Yo-Yo's, and a whole lot more. So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? I said, it 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 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. I got you, I got you, I got you. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.

Thank you.