The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Rachael Kirkconnell is the Most Eligible Bachelorette with Heather Martin

Episode Date: February 22, 2025

They once both vied for Matt James' heart, and now, Heather Martin is rooting hard for Rachael Kirkconnell and thinks she may be the most eligible bachelorette by the way she's looking. Ashley is joined by Heather to discuss the split everyone's still talking about and shares a secret from BFF Hannah Brown.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. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell. And the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to get caught. And I just looked at my computer screen.

I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology is already solving so many. cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truthers believe in... I guess they would be Kenspiracy theorists. That's right. To give you the answers, and you still The Puzzler. Listen on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story. Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack, available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts with IHartRadio. Hey, guys, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast.

Today we have a mini episode catching up with Heather Martin. Our producers had a little bit of a thought having gone, Heather. Oh, no. Who can we get Matt? James T from and they're like oh heather's and she wanted to join his season I figured as much so let's just jump into it yes what was your reaction when you saw I guess the breakup post initially yeah I mean as far as I know obviously like I haven't been best friends with that you know for the five so I thought as far as I knew I thought they were gonna

get married. Endgame, yeah. And from, you know, hearing through Hannah, because I'm still obviously talked to Hannah all the time, like, it felt the same, she felt the same vibe. So I was, when I saw that, I was, I was shocked. I was like, what happened? I did, I had knew nothing, but I was like, that was crazy. It was, it was interesting post, obviously, that everyone, you know, everyone thought, but. Did you watch the Call Her Daddy? I did. I did. And what was your main takeaway? I honestly thought, I thought, I thought Rachel handed her, handled herself really, really well. I thought she was like spoke so highly of him. And I honestly thought she was just being like truthful. I felt like she really meant what she said and she was still

like, obviously it was so, so fresh. But I was like, I think she's just saying exactly what happened and what the truth was, which I thought was really respectful because she could have gone and said like the worst or she could have, you know, still been like, I want, I want to like tried to like talking about more because she still wouldn't get back together with him. But it felt like she was just, like, raw and honest, which I thought was really, that was cool. She's definitely giving, you know, the, I'm a lady, I'm a single, very, uh, what would be the word?

Like, she is like a, she's kind of playing The Bachelorette in real life right now. Do you feel that on Instagram? Totally. I mean, like all of her, uh, Galantines posts and all. the things and I mean she is like the most ever in saying like she's the most eligible bachelor's and she eligible bachelor yes she is she's stunning she's funny she's sweet like I'm like she's going to get she's going to get swooped up so quick but what do you think do you think she's ready like do you feel like she would be ready or do you think that no not right now I wonder

like I mean I feel like she you know who knows so my theory was that like Matt probably knew for quite some time that she wasn't endgame for him and he just didn't know how to how to get out of it so when they had a series of fights i think he just kind of thought that was his way out do you think yeah what you think it was like a revelation in the moment no way i think that what i think is that he and this is like only my thoughts but i think that he like was trying so hard and he wanted it badly to be it and I think like I've done it before where it's like you can you can convince yourself it's it for so long oh 100,000 percent and I think like I think like he wasn't planning it I don't think he's like how to like I don't think he was like how do I get out how to get out

like and this is my opportunity I think he was just like I think he kind of knew deep deep down okay that's what I mean too yeah I don't think like any of this was on the surface yeah but I do feel like there was like that little voice inside his soul that knew it wasn't completely right and then that little conscious conscience came out during this moment like almost like a little mini yeah like came to the surface of revelation yeah yeah yeah this this isn't how it should be or this has isn't how it should feel and she's going to know that soon enough like I'm not worried about her at all she I don't know that she's there yet it's only been like I'm a little over a month. But I think that she will soon realize like, oh, there was that and there was

that. And this, that wasn't the right relationship. Yeah, for her too. Yeah. Yeah. I think so too. Yeah. And it's so hard when it's like you're so, I think just dating for, that's like my biggest fear is like dating for so long and then being like, how did I not? No. Oh, my God. Not just that. Just like, you feel like it's a waste of time. If you're with somebody for like a year, you're like, okay, I learned something through that, blah, blah, blah. But four years, feels like always sometimes even a year a year totally feels like three months in my life right now I'm like that's no I can't do it you know what I mean and especially like those like I feel like upper 20s mid 20s like formative years were like yeah met my person and I would have been and I want to have kids I know

but it's also at the same time like I don't feel like I think a lot of people are like it's his fault he should have done it like blah I'm like I don't know I think I don't know I don't know I know it's controversial, but I just feel like he really wanted it to happen. So I'm not thinking like he was so like malicious and like was like only doing it because they were like business partners and, you know, I don't think he wanted it. I think people are like jumping on him so much. I'm like, no, I think he was also trying to figure it out. And he was like he wants us to be it.

And he also wants to get married and all the things. So yeah. Well, I think he wants to get married. But I think that there's a lot that needs to happen with him before that. because he does seem to like he seems scared of sort of like that commitment do you think them well I don't know I think he's just like there's something I just he should not four years he knew it years ago he he should have been working to feel it for four years is what I'm saying so if he's like to have a guy who's like going to work to feel a feeling for four years

I know I it's so I know I don't know see like like my perspective is, I don't know, I don't necessarily think it's like he's afraid of commitment. Yeah, it's not the term. I don't know what it is. More so that like he's like, it just wasn't the right one. But yeah, I guess it, I guess he should have, like, I think if he was to meet the right letter on, that's the biggest problem. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think he should that, yeah. I mean, I think you kind of know, I think you know pretty like. I think you know pretty fast too. Immediately. And maybe that's a girl thing, but I think like, if I, when I've been in a situation, I knew, I knew, like, within the first month.

Yeah. But, yeah, I don't know. Well, how is your love life right now? Oh, Ashley, it's rough out there. Heather for Bachelorette. Come on. I mean, I know we're skipping this season. Yeah, no, it's, I dated this last year for a little while, someone from not from California.

He was awesome. So great. on paper, but there was just like this connection piece that was missing. Yeah. And it was kind of, I mean, obviously it wasn't like the same thing. But the same with that thing is like, I wanted it. I try. I really, really wanted to happen because I'm like, he's like a perfect human.

Like, why? And it just like, I pushed it along, pushed along because I was like, something's wrong with me, maybe. Maybe this is a me problem. And I like, I need to like figure it out. But I think in the end of the day, I realized like he just was, it was, it wasn't it. you know yeah so it's tough out there i'm like i don't know what to do at this point but how do you 29 you're still in your 20s and you're fine i always jared and i didn't get together

until i was well my 30th birthday was like our really dating anniversary day yeah okay that makes me feel better it can happen fast i always just say that like it feels like it could be so far away especially when you get into your upper 20s totally but then like it just takes one person and then all of a sudden it's just like all happening and then it's there i know i think i'm just holding out for that i think it's like yeah in those that phase before i'm like oh no i think i never felt like the 29 thing i'm like that's not going to happen to me i'm not going to feel like stressed out at 30 i'm like oh no yeah i'm over the i'm over the hill not really but it's i understand it's like you're you know i understand but it's all silly and don't worry about it

you're it's going to happen it's going to happen where nobody Everybody's worried about you, Heather. Nobody's going to look and look at you and then be around you and be like, ah, nope, this girl should have luck. He's going to die alone if they're cat. You know, not thank you. Yes. 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. 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. 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. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. And in session 421 of therapy for black girls, I sit down with Dr. Athea and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal.

Because I think hair is a complex language system, right? In terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyperfixation and observation of our hair, right? That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post

or a reel is how our hair is styled. You talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss

session 418 with Dr. Angela LeNeill Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show. And we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retired.

and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate, you can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar AZ Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

I'm Simone Boyce, host of the Brightside podcast, and on this week's episode, I'm talking to Olympian, World Cup Champion, and podcast host, Ashlyn Harris. My worth is not wrapped up in how many things I've won. Because what I came to realize is I valued winning so much that once it was over, I got the blues and I was like, this is it. For me, it's the pursuit of greatness. It's the journey. It's the people. It's the failures. It's the heartache. Listen to the bright side on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Back to Matt for a second. What was the last time you spoke to him?

Did you carry on any sort of friendliness after he decided to not let you in on the season? Yeah. I saw, I've seen him at, I saw him at Hannah's birthday party one time. I, like, I never had any sort of weirdness with that after. Like, I didn't even feel uncomfortable at all because I'm like, it was just such a weird situation. But nothing ever happened between us. So I haven't, like, we're not, we were never like. we're not best buds you know did you reach out to him after the breakup yeah no okay I didn't

um appropriate that would be a little maybe a little bit weird it was like you're we're trying to get in yeah yeah I'm not trying to hear to swoop in yeah none of that but I have um yeah I just I've been like I've you know pretty much caught up with him mostly through Hannah and through like hearing all of her perspective and all the things and so but yeah I've I've been casual friendly with that but nothing like obviously that that's the extent of it did you ever become friendly with rachel i saw her i only saw her for like a brief yeah second uh at one thing so not that i wasn't friendly with her but just i never knew her never encountered her yeah well hannah brown is one of your best friends and man she's one of the greatest i love her she was so sweet she

into my baby sprinkle. Like we like hung out for like two hours and I was like I have a sprinkle tomorrow. Do you want to come? And then she like, we just had the best time together. The best. Um, she had a big headline out there recently that she and her fiance are no longer living together. Can you give us a little insight into that? I know the wedding's planned. So they're not breaking up. I know everyone. I've got so many messages from people. What's happened? Like people who are like not even just random people like, people who are like, are they? Are they? okay like what's happening like even Courtney Courtney message or agent message and she's like this isn't right

blah blah but no I I was actually so so happy for them I think Adam um her fiancee and her have just been really like diving into their faith a lot more yeah I mean Hannah's been a Christian forever but I think Adam was baptized this year and they really started as a couple focusing on their faith I think a lot more intentionally and just their values and I think like as Christians they were like I feel I think they felt like a little bit of a conviction about living together and so they're like I thought yeah for our relationship I think it's going to be the best thing to move out and just and really have that like special bond when we get married so I was so so happy for them and they are doing I think they're

doing better than ever like they're so excited about getting married and it's coming up soon which is exciting. It's the summer? In August or July. Yes, July. And so, yeah, she's so, I think I have never seen like a lighter, brighter Hannah in my life. And I really think it's like a big part of it. Oh, I love that.

Yeah. Pardon the TMI, but does that mean that they're like holding withholding until the wedding? I think so. Yeah, I think that's the plan. Yeah. Yeah. It would be weird to just be like, oh, we'll live in separate houses, but we'll still sleep together. I think that would maybe be a cause for concern then.

That would be like, what is the purpose here? And I think that's why people were like, that's very sweet. They don't really respect that. Yeah. So I think they're so happy. And I think they're so excited. And yeah, they're doing so good. I cannot wait for them to get married.

Oh, good. Do they try to set you up with people? Because, I mean, Adam, let's be real. Like, Adam's a prince. Like, he is a stunning man. He is. And he's got us very sweet. personality he's got a house on for you so literally they were the one who they were on a birthday

trip and they met this guy and he was the guy that i dated oh yeah so hannah i said hannah you have like the best out of all my friends i have like a great group of friends here and i'm like hannah you're the star of the setups which is unexpected but she's just like a go like she's just like who like she's you know ultra competitive she knows what she's she's like go for it so yeah So I'm like, let's work on round two. Let's keep it going. Yeah. I'm going to look out for you too.

Yeah, please. But it would be like another long distance thing. I don't know anybody in San Diego. I honestly, I think the California thing might be the problem. But is your family's from the area? My family's from the area. But I think my mom's like, I'm going wherever you guys are going. So.

Aw. Are my parents, obviously, my dad too. But he'll go over. Your dad's like just nonchal and all to go where she goes. Yeah. Oh, well, that's sweet. Yeah. Where would you go?

That's what I'm thinking about. I think you should go to Nashville with her. I know. I love Nashville. But I've heard bad things out dating in Nashville. Well, it's probably becoming kind of like an L.A. like hub. Yes. I've heard like four stories of Nashville dating of people like, yeah, just like having to leave.

But I don't know. I honestly don't think it's easier anywhere. Do you? Probably not. No. And you're in San Diego. You're not in L.A. Yeah, L.A. is not it.

But San Diego guys do feel like, I feel like they might think they're hot shit, too. It's like Peter Pan syndrome. here too. Yeah. Yeah. Like 45 still surfing and, you know, not committing. Dude. I do not miss that.

Yeah. I know. Is there any cute guys running around Rhode Island? No, everybody in Rhode Island's married. That's the thing. And it was like Midwest. I feel like they all get married like 20. Yeah.

Like people in Rhode Island marry who they've known since elementary school. It's like the state only has a million people and they never leave. Oh my God. So it's just like all assessed pool. It's basically a bigger version of The Bachelor. That's so funny. Okay, so that's off the list then probably. Yeah.

We'll see. And I guess Matt James is off the list, right? Is he going to be at Hannah's wedding? Do they still have a friendship? I think they still have a friendship. I bet he'll be there. I think he'll be there. So we'll see him then.

And Tyler Cameron won't be there. But is he and Matt still friends? I think they're still friends. Yeah. I think they're still friends. I don't know. I think it's so hard. It's like you don't live in the same area.

But yeah, I think they're still close. How cute is Tyler Cameron with his girlfriend? Oh my gosh. I was just like looking at all their stuff. I was like, I was not on social media. And last night, I just like a little like an hour scroll. And I was going through their videos. I'm like, what the heck?

She seems perfect for him. I know. I just love them together. Yeah. They just seem like so sweet to her. And they're so normal. And I love the fact that like he has. had the opportunity to be like total playboy, right? And he like kind of went through that

phase. And he kind of admits to it. He was on the podcast saying that he did that and then he kind of realized he didn't want that life that it wasn't fulfilled by it. And he goes home and he is with Tate who's been friends with for a long time. So cute. And just like a down home girl like but like just like normal. And like yeah, I'm just like so normal. It just seems like the most perfect. Yeah, I'm happy for it. Yeah. They decorate and reconstruct the house together. Yeah. Great.

And then, you know, he just surprises her with the range over on Valentine's Day. Yeah. Then they're not normal. Then there's that part. But that's all good. That's what makes it awesome is that's like, that's what makes it like very rom-commy. Where it's like, oh, yeah. So like you kind of, it is like a Tad Hamilton.

Oh my gosh. My favorite movie of all time. One of the most underrated rom-coms of all time. You were like born when that movie came out. Oh my gosh. I want to be her so badly. And like that is my ultimate dream. I love it. Rosalie Fletch.

Lee Fletch. It's so cute. All right. Heather, there's so much fun talking to you. We'll catch up another time as well. Okay. Bye. Talk later.

Until next time, guys. I've been Ashley. See ya. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I just normally do straight stand up.

but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story. Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story.

It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack, available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every case. That is a cold case that has DNA. Right now, in a backlog, will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell.

And the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to get caught. And I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology is already solving so many cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's start with a quick question. puzzle. The answer is

Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truthers, believe in... I guess they would be Kenspiracy

theorists. That's right. They gave you the answers and you still blew it. The Puzzler. Listen on the I-Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.