The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - RHOC Gina Kirschenheiter Admits She Loves Her Ex’s New Wife

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

RHOC Gina Kirschenheiter found herself divorced and a single mom of 3 kids on the other side of the country, away from her friends and family. Now in a happy long-term relationship, Gina is ready to share what worked to successfully navigate a co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband. Not friends with your ex's new wife? Gina tells you why it's imperative to get along! 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.

This is an I-Heart podcast. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers, but it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York, since the son of Sam, available now.

Listen for free on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. On the podcast health stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night. I'm Dr. Priyankawali, a double board certified physician. And I'm Hurricane Dabolu, a comedian and someone who once Googled, Do I Have Scurvy at 3am? And on our show, we're talking about health in a different way, like our episode where we look at diabetes. In the United States, I mean, 50% of Americans are pre-diabetic.

How preventable is type 2? Extremely. Listen to Health Stuff on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What do you get when you mix 1950s Hollywood, a Cuban musician with a dream, and one of the most iconics it comes of all time? You get Desi Arness. On the podcast star in Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama, I'll take you in a journey to Desi's life, how he redefined American television, and what that meant for all of us watching from me. the sidelines waiting for a face like hours on screen. Listen to starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valdarama on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Podcasters, it's time to get the recognition you deserve. The IHart Podcast Awards are coming back in 2026. Got a mic? Then you've got a shot. Every year, we celebrate the most creative, compelling, and game-changing voices in podcasting. Is that you? Submit now at IHartPodcastawards for a chance to be honored on the biggest stage in the industry. Deadline December 7th. This is your chance. Let's celebrate the power of podcasting and your place in it. Enter now at iHeartPodcastawards.com.

Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mailroom. And I'm Jordan, the show's producer. And like most guys, I haven't been to the doctor in way too long. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Every week, we're breaking down the world of men's health from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility. We'll talk science without the jargon and get your real answers to the stuff you actually wonder about.

So check out the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Hi, guys, welcome back to I do Part 2. It's your celebrity mentor, Jen Fessler, and I am recording at Provocon in Las Vegas. And my guest today, you guys know her, you've watched her, you've loved her. She has an accent, you can't really forget, because she's actually an East Coast girl like me from the Real Housewives of Orange County. It's Gina Kirshin-Hider. You got it. I did.

Yes. Yay, me. Okay. Listen, we are absolutely thrilled to have you. I'm thrilled to be. And as you know, this is, I do part two. So we talk about sort of the first part of your romantic life and where you are right now. And I feel like you've really gotten it right the second time. Yeah, you know, I think just like anything, it takes you a couple of tries to get good at something.

Yes, I agree. Absolutely. And I think, yes, I feel very good about it this time. Well, as a viewer, it's so sweet. I love your dynamic. Yeah, I really do. So tell us about how long you were married and how many kids do you have? Just fill in the blanks, even if our viewers have been following you for years. So funny, because I don't want you to hold me to the flame on this because it's been a long time. It's like, I don't even really remember, but I'm pretty sure I was married for eight years total. I met my ex-husband in college. We were very young. We got engaged very quick, married very quick, kids very quick. I moved to California pregnant with my third child 10 years ago. Wow. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, that is quick. It's very quick. And it's actually crazy because I moved pregnant with Luca, had Luca, and then like a year and a half later, I got casted on the show. So most of my life in California has been, the ride has been, housewives has been a part of it. That's really crazy. Yeah, it is very crazy.

I mean, obviously I want to know, like, how that's affected things and certainly a relationship now, but before we go there, I still want to know a little bit more about your ex-husband. Okay. So, and not just about him, but, you know, about sort of your situation like for instance how did you know that it was over that it was done like when did you kind of you know it is interesting because i feel like because i was so young we both come from parents that are happily married honestly and so i didn't even really honestly think about divorce as like a thing or an option or something that would happen um i

think when i look back on it i understand that we were very young i think we moved away from New York, which was our home base, from all of our support, family, everything. And I think my ex-husband lost his way when we moved to California. He had had an affair, which I've been very open about. And still, I didn't think that it was over. I thought, okay, how are we going to fix this? Right. And we, it just kind of got to the point where I felt like I just kept waiting for him to, like, show up and prove to me that he wanted to be in it. And then at a certain point, like, waiting for him to want to be in it, I realized that I didn't even want to be in it, you know? Yeah. But it is pretty scary because then you think about, like, what are, honestly,

just like, what are your options? What are you going to do? I moved away from everything I knew. I moved away from, you know, I worked in New York, all of that. And, like, just to think about the difference and dynamic of like what that looks like when you never thought that that was even a possibility. Yeah, well listen, divorce is, I feel like they put it on the list of like the most traumatic, like it's death,

divorce, something I think moving, but I've also heard it said that until you're at the point where you're like, I don't care, I don't care about the money. You obviously will always care about your kids, but you're at the point where it's like this is not,

it's going to be better for the kids. I don't care about being single. Like, I just, I got to get out. Yeah. And I think that that's kind of what happened. Even when we did separate and I did start the divorce process and all of that, and we were very much not together, there was a point in time then that he wanted to reconcile. And it was like he all of a sudden has epiphany and he wanted his family and he wanted

da-da-da-da. And it was very short-lived. And I, but I did it because I felt like I owed it to my kids. And then it just all imploded horribly. And then it got to the point where I knew it could never go back. not right so yes and so i mean he really left me no option to stay by the end of our relationship like there was literally nothing there and then you look back and i'm like honestly like i don't i just don't think that we were supposed to be together like i think we were supposed to be together in the

way where we have three beautiful children and we were supposed to be parents together because i truly believe that but i don't think we were supposed to be a romantic couple I mean, that's like the greatest news ever. I hope that every door is when it looks back and things. Well, that was a fucking mistake. Yeah. I think like if more people can just say to themselves, like this is a fucking mistake. Yeah, that was a mistake and we're moving on.

And it allows you to segue out of it more gracefully and just and I don't think like I don't even regret it. Like it was a time in life. It served its purpose and it was a part of my life. Yeah, of course. But it wasn't meant to be forever. Right. Yeah.

Love it. Yeah. All right. So listeners, listen, listen, sometimes you just got to say, this. This. Okay, so anyway, tell me a little bit about Travis. I'm looking at his sweet face right now. I know.

I'm sorry, that was so uncomfortable for him to have to listen to, even though he knows everything. Was it Travis? Not at all. He doesn't even care. He's like, whatever. I've heard it all. Well, we're big Travis fans. Tell us a little bit about how long you guys have been together and how you met.

I'm a big Travis fan, too. We've been together for overseas. six years. And it's actually funny because if you ask me versus if you asked Travis how we met, we actually have like two different stories. That's a little messed up. It is messed up. It's a little messy. It's a little messy. If you asked. Yes. If you if you if you as Travis, he deduces it down to I slid into his DMs. Okay. Which sounds horrifying and is so it makes me sound like I was out there just like sliding into creepy men's like DM. Like I would never do that. We had, It was a woman actually, her name is Shea.

She was doing my hair and makeup at the time on the show. And she, her husband worked with Travis at the time. And she was like, you know, I know this one guy and he's going through this. He's divorced. He's going through this divorce. He's going through this divorce, whatever. And he's so sweet and he's so kind. And he's like the best guy.

And I looked at his picture. And to be honest, like, I didn't like love him in photographs. And I was like, but I love, there was something about him. it was literally how happy and how his face lit up when he was in pictures with his children and I really liked that and then I was how you slid into his so I slid into his DMs like a little ho yes like a little hoe I was like you know what you got to go for it I had a friend who encouraged me he encouraged me to do it and he's like he's so cute he looks so nice just do it slid in his DMs we talked for like a while back and forth and then we did end up going on a date

which I triple booked and he was so good about what does that mean Like, I, you have two other dates? And I, not with dates. I'm not a real hookardine. But two other things. It was like my best friend, Tatiana's birthday and, like, one other thing that I was like a serial triple booker back in the day before I, like, got myself organized and got my shit together.

Right. And he was very sweet about it. So we ended up having, like, an early bird special, like, 5 p.m. dinner at this, like, Italian place. And then I ended up, it was actually really funny because we were having such an amazing time that I was like, why don't you just come with me to my best friend. birthday. I was like, it's going to be lots of couples. You know, it'll be totally cool. And he was like, okay. And then we show up and none of the women, my friends had their husbands with them. So he walked

into like 15 of my girlfriends on this first date, like the lion's den. It was the best. So you know if he could survive that. Exactly. I was like, you're a keeper. Listen, my, my guess is that whether or not you slid into his DMs, I think he probably took one look at you. And he well, to go, back to that point too. What I realized is I didn't love him in his photos at the time, but in all honesty, I see that as like such a plus column now because he just didn't care. He wasn't like a guy who was like, let me take a good picture, you know? And in person, he's like actually very handsome. I agree. It's interesting because my husband, my only requirement when I was young in my 20s was that if you're going to fix me up, he has to be

tall. Period. That's it. I was like, well, you're even taller than I am. How tall are you? I'm 5'8. Yeah. I'm like 5. Now I'm like 5, 6 and a half. You're shrinking? But I was 5.

Like Debrow. She's shrinking. She always talks about it. But I was like, has to be tall. He doesn't have to be rich. He doesn't have to be gorgeous. He doesn't have to be. Well, you could turn around and see Jeff Fessler's 5, 6.

Well, you know what? He defies the odds. He does defy the odds. But the point is right? Like you just don't know. You have to feel it. Like you have to meet. You don't know.

Right. And there's always going to be things that you have to deal with. Exactly. And that's so true to life. And when you fall in love, you fall hard and that's it. But I will say my first thing out of my mouth when I met Travis was like, oh, my God, you're still a tall. So I checked that box. You did check that box.

So being on housewives puts obviously your relationship under a magnifying glass. So tell us about, because it sounds like the show was helpful and did some good things in terms of your relationship with Travis. I'm just making that up. I don't know. Well, I don't know. I don't know. I think that actually the thing that that was happening, I'm just very honest about everything, right?

So I will say, I don't know if the show had like a direct effect on our relationship. What I appreciate about the show is I think the show has accurately shown our relationship. And I know that a lot of people. So, you know, that's all on you. That's great. I mean, that you are so authentic and that you've been willing to open up. I think I'm very happy about the fact that like when I look at it, it's not perfect and we've obviously gone through some heavy things. But it's, it's us and we're in it. And you can see

that we love each other. And I think it shows the real relationship that we have and the connection that we have and the love that we have for each other. So I'm very happy that the show was able to also show like what a good person, Travis. And like, you know, I, and also like, it's a little scary for the men on our show, you know? So I was, and I didn't, I didn't start my show with a husband. Right. Like he, he didn't, I was married, but he didn't participate. Right. So I had never filmed with a guy before a period. And so I was, that was like nerve-wracking for me. I think that a lot of women, it's funny, like, feel badly about their husband or their, their partner's participation on the show because they're daugged. Like, even if somebody literally said that to me

today that I read into a housewife that it's just hard for her partner because, he doesn't get to defend himself and you know the women just go like off and it's just interesting because I feel like everyone was always rooting for Travis like when you guys broke up I was a little sick about it I know it was horrible I was too I was a lot sick about it than I was

it just was very unfortunate that that was really happening in our relationship and it really was what I said it was like there's a circumstance there that is very frightening to me and to you know have my kids around and everything but ultimately I the decision that I made to not give up like our beautiful family and our beautiful life just because something

scared me. I'm happy that I got to showcase that. And I'm happy that I got to deliver that message because I think that a lot of people do deal with similar circumstances and things that we've had to deal with. And I don't think the solution is giving up. I love everything about that. From my own personal experience, I completely agree with you. My husband and I were separated, got back together, and I couldn't be more grateful. Yeah. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers, but it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught.

The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer. The investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the son of Sam, available now. Listen for free on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mailroom. And I'm Jordan, the show's producer.

And like a lot of guys, I haven't been to the doctor in many years. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Because guys usually don't go to the doctor unless a piece of their face is hanging off or they've broken a bone. Depends which bone. Well, that's true. Every week, we're breaking down the unique world of men's health, from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility and things that happen in the bedroom. You mean sleep? Yeah, something like that, Jordan.

We'll talk science without the jargon and get you real answers to the stuff you actually wonder about. It's going to be fun, whether you're 27, 97, or somewhere in between. Men's Health is about more than six packs and supplements. It's about energy, confidence, and connection. We don't just want you to live longer. We want you to live better. So check out the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows.

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, and I'm the host of the On Purpose podcast. Recently, I had the honor of sitting down with the iconic Chris Jenna. You never quite know what or where life is going to lead you and where it's going to be the best lesson you ever learned. and not get distracted by the noise. This is a lot of noise. Even if one of your children has been through something really difficult

with their partner or an ex-partner, you still love them as part of the unit and the family. These are, in most cases, the fathers of my grandchildren. I love these men, and that love doesn't go away when we experience really challenging times with them. Compassion is key in the way.

to really feeling what somebody might be going through, even though you don't agree with them. If you once love them, then love is love. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On the podcast Health Stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night. Yes, I'm Dr. Priyanka Wally, a double board certified physician.

And I'm Hurricane Dabolu, a comedian and someone who once Googled, do I have scurvy at 3 a.m. On health stuff, we're talking about health in a different way. It's not only about what we can do to improve our health, but also what our health says about us and the way we're living. Like our episode where we look at diabetes. In the United States, I mean, 50% of Americans are pre-diabetic. How preventable is type 2?

Extremely. Or our in-depth analysis of how incredible mangoes are. Oh, it's hard to explain. Explain to the rest of the world that, like, your mangoes are fine because mangoes are incredible, but, like, you don't even know. You don't know. You don't know. It's going to be a fun ride. So tune in.

Listen to Health Stuff on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The forces shaping the world's economies and financial markets can be hard to spot. Even though they are such a powerful player in finance, you wouldn't really know that you are interacting with them. And even harder to understand. Donald Trump's trade war, 2.0, is only accelerating the process of de-dollarization, which in a way is jargon for people turning away from the dollar. That is where the big take from Bloomberg podcast comes in, to connect the dots. How unusual is a deal like this? Unprecedented.

Every weekday afternoon, we dive deep into one big global business story. The biggest story of the reaction of the oil market to the conflict in the Middle East, is one of what has not happened. Katie, you told me that ETFs are your favorite thing. They are. Explain that. Why is that the case? And unpack what it means for you.

Our breakfast foods are consistent consumer staples, and so they sort of become outsized indicators of inflation. Listen to the big take from Bloomberg News every weekday afternoon on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay. So I think this is kind of interesting. I know that your viewers do too, but that you have such a nice relationship with your ex-husband's, she girlfriend or wife? Wife, no wife. Yeah. I love that. I think that's so great. I do too. Right? I love her. I love her. Was it hard to get there? No, I mean, I would say that it wasn't, you know, just like anything. When somebody first comes in the mix, you're like, who's this bitch, you know? Who's hanging with my kids? Exactly. Yes. And you want to be defined.

offensive and you want to be protective, but I think that like when you really, you love your children and you see that somebody is good to your children. And then also like good to you, she was very respectful of me. And she was very kind to my children. And I would have been an idiot to not have received that with open arms. I agree with you. And there are a lot of women who just can't do it. Yeah. Right? There's just too much water under the bridge. There's too much history and they just resent. And it's hard probably to picture any other woman whether or not she's, she could be, you know, Mother Teresa, but with your kids. Yeah. But you did it beautiful. Yeah, it is. It's not easy. It's not like that was an easy thing for me at first. And there are

things, you know, feelings of, uh, jealousy or insecurity or fear or just, I don't even know what it is. It's just like your instinctual like no doors are mine. Yes. But like, you know, I really think that we, we all meet a very adult mature. a cognizant decision to put our children truly first. And that's what we did at first. It was just put the kids first because that's what you're supposed to do. And then with time, we really developed like a very lovely friendship. You could see it. I can see it on the show.

Yeah. And she's there for me. And she's now, now we're protective of each other, you know? So it is. And like, honestly, if that's a message I could put out, because I understand there's a lot of women who can't do it, but it's like, do it because it's better for you. that's the whole thing right like having that it frees you up yeah not to have to have letting go of whatever it is the baggage you're carrying around like why you become like a team I think that's what it looks

like totally we're totally a team love it and you pick and then you're just picking up each other slack and then you're all able to do so much more and you're able to be there for the kids in such a lovely way and like my kids don't know they just know that they have four parents that are on board and love them you know so it's a lucky kids yeah uh Do you feel like it also helped your relationship with Matt? I think so. I think that I give a lot of credit to me and Matt being able to have a healthy relationship to Travis and Britt because they were both.

Oh, so Matt and Travis are friendly. They're friendly, of course. Yes, everybody's friendly. And as it should be. And any time, you know, when early on, when anything that Matt would do, I won't want to be like, what the fuck is he doing? You know what I mean? Travis would always be like, I understand that you feel.

feel that way, but you got to put the kids first. He had just a very mature way of always making me do the right thing and encouraging, like, good communication between Matt and I. Wow. And I, I do believe that Britt was doing the same thing. Becoming a little attracted to Travis as this goes on. I know. I'm finding him very... He is. He's very, yeah. Very sexy. I'm sorry to say. Anyway, yes. But, like, for anyone who you think might be struggling, like communicating with their ex, you know like are there tips for you in terms of like from you like did you connect a lot first

email or are there you know did you use any of those apps yeah yeah for sure there was a time at the beginning when you know things were very not good between me and my ex where we would only communicate on like the court ordered right apps or whatever and you should do that because what it does is it prevents you from taking the shot that you want to take because taking the shot just makes the water is muddier. It's you take the shot. You're also taking one step further back from where the goal line is.

And you have to be with this person. You have a relationship with this person, whether you're married or not for the rest of your life. What do you want that to look like? Right. And that's truly how I feel. It's like, do you want that to look messy and ugly and difficult your entire life?

Because that person's not going anywhere. It's not even like when they're, after they're legal. Then you have weddings. And then you have, they have babies. Of course. Don't you all want to be in the room together and celebrate and have fun and not let that take the air out of the room, you know? I mean, I'm a little older than you. So I will just say, I'm very proud of you. Thank you.

Well done. Thank you. I'm sure you're, I hope you're very proud of yourself because it's not easy. I am proud of it. I am very, I'm very proud of what the work that I think, uh, we've all put into it. Yeah. Yeah. And we truly are like a team and, and I like to talk about it because it, I mean, I had one of the worst divorces.

you could have, right? And so if I could do it, other people could do it. Yeah. It's so inspiring. I bet you get a lot of people sliding into your DMs about just the whole topic, right? About parenting. Yes, for sure. But I will say that I do understand, because I never want to be like so boxy, I do understand that there are a lot of circumstances. Of course. That you cannot. Yes. Because everybody has to be on board and everybody has to be willing to, yeah, and open to make this work. And if somebody is resistant and well. And to be, and to listen. Right. Yeah. And I agree, there are cases where it just can't happen. Yeah.

All right, well, Ms. Gina, thank you so much for coming in and talking about your co-parenting and talking about sweet Travis. We loved having you here. Let's go have some fun. Yeah, I know, right? Let's go turn it up. Take a billion pictures. Get ready.

We are going to take a lot. Starting with me and you. But just to remind our listeners, you can find love again. Are you dating but not having much success? We can help call us or email us. all the info is in the show notes. Follow us on socials. Make sure to rate and review the podcast.

I do part two. An IHeart podcast where falling in love is the main objective. Thank you, Ms. Gina. Thanks, Jen. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers. But it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him?

I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the son of Sam, available now. Listen for free on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. On the podcast Health Stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night.

I'm Dr. Priyanko Wally, a double board certified physician. And I'm Hurricane Dibolu, a comedian and someone who once Googled, do I have scurvy at 3 a.m. And on our show, we're talking about health in a different way, like our episode where we look at diabetes. In the United States, I mean, 50% of Americans are pre-diabetic. How preventable is type 2? Extremely.

Listen to health stuff on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Podcasters, it's time to get the recognition you deserve. IHeart Podcast Awards are coming back in 2026. Got it, Mike? Then you've got a shot. Every year, we celebrate the most creative, compelling, and game-changing voices in podcasting. Is that you?

Submit now at iHeartPodcastawards.com for a chance to be honored on the biggest stage in the industry. Deadline December 7th. This is your chance. Let's celebrate the power of podcasting and your place in it. Enter now at iHeartpodcastawards.com. What do you get when you mix 1950s Hollywood? a Cuban musician with a dream and one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. You get Desi Arness on the podcast starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderama.

I'll take you in a journey to Desi's life, how he redefined American television and what that meant for all of us watching from the sidelines, waiting for a face like hours on screen. Listen to starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mail Room.

And I'm Jordan, the show's producer. And like most guys, I haven't been to the doctor in way too long. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Every week, we're breaking down the world of men's health from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility. We'll talk science without the jargon and get your real answers to the stuff you actually wonder about. So check out the Mailroom on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. an IHeart podcast.