The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - S5 E8 Hopping on the Boy Bandwagon

Episode Date: May 15, 2018

Ashley almost faints from fangirling, when a member of a huge boy band calls in to surprise her with huge news.    Then, a truly polarizing former cast member, Josh Murray, calls in to talk about how things when down on his multiple failed Bachelor engagements.   And after a passionate edition of Ben Bitches, Ben has a big announcement to make. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the Ben and Ashley I almost famous podcast with IHartRadio. I mean, we just keep coming back. We're never leaving. This is season five, episode seven of the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast. Yay! I think it's been a full year. I think it's been a full year as of this week.

That's insane. Ashley, it's been a great year with you. You just keep getting better. Oh, my God. Stop. Thank you. Ashley, we missed you last week. I missed you all right in Los Angeles to see you.

And you disappeared onto the East Coast. How was your trip? It was really good. I just went all over the place, but it was basically New York and Virginia. I went to a Bon Jovi concert with one of our favorite producers, Pete Scalitar. He used to work on the show. That was cool. I saw two Broadway shows, Kinky Boots, which was out.

standing and mean girls, which wasn't as much of a fan. Sometimes don't mess with the original. And then I went home to Virginia to see my mom on Mother's Day. That's amazing. Well, welcome back to Los Angeles. Hey, everyone, I'm telling you right now, if you've for some reason fallen into the podcasting world and you've came across to almost famous podcast, and you're asking yourself right now, what is this?

And I don't want to listen to these two people any longer. I'm telling you, hold up for one second. because here within the next five minutes we are about to make podcasting history we are going to have a surprise guest on this podcast that I believe might make Ashley Ikenetti faint I'm not I'm not joking with this wait you know the podcast you know the podcast super guest

surprise guest um yes I do Is it Lance Bass? Ashley just uh pause for a second here because we got to get into Bachelor news before we bring on our surprise guest Bachelor news. Actually, we've came across a little article this week from an interview between Andy Cohen and Charlize Saren, which is wild to me that she is even comedy on The Bachelor, but she blacks past Bachelor Ari Lynde Dyke, but really promotes and supports Becca's next run as a Bachelorette. Isn't it crazy to think that, you know, A-list actresses or actors or celebrities just so involved in this show?

Well, she got Sean Penn into the show back when they were dating, and I remember Caitlin watching, I think he was on Jimmy Kimmel when it was my season, and he was talking about how much he loved Caitlin and hope that she was the next Bachelorette. And it was just like, Caitlin was just astonished. And, yeah, again, I mean, Charlie's Theron. It's, that's no B-list celebrity. That is straight A-list. It's pretty cool.

It is really cool. Not a fan of Ari, a huge fan of Becca. I mean, we said it last week on the podcast. I don't know if you're able to hear it or not actually. Becca will be walking into becoming a Bachelorette as probably the most supported and loved Bachelorette ever. I don't know. Come on, Jojo. Everybody was obsessed with Jojo.

I get it. No, Joe, I mean, we've had amazing Bachelorette. Like, we could go through the list and compare. But I'm telling you, Ari might have done Becca the most supportive thing ever by breaking up with her on national TV because now everybody loved her. I mean, it was sad and it was tough at the time, but now nobody wants to see Beck of Kill.

Everybody wants to see her succeed. She's walking in this season, I think, loved, completely loved. Is it weird that I don't even really feel bad for her anymore? Because he sucks so bad pertaining to like her storyline that I'm like

just, I'm so happy for her to have gotten away from that. I kind of agree. about that the other day. I was like, yeah, I wanted to say it myself, and I'm glad you did because it's true. Like, I don't feel bad for it all anymore. Yeah, it was terrible. It was sad. But she's doing just fine. Speaking of doing just fine. We got a glimpse of her guys this week. There was a little commercial that came out. What about the chicken guy? I mean, every year there's something weird going on, but what makes this guy think?

I'm going to try and find my wife. And so on that first impression, I'm going to dress up in a chicken suit. Would you be into that? Why is there so many chicken themes in The Bachelor? couple years ago we had chicken girl that was oh that was how'd you respond to that i mean it's just kind of weird to have a chicken like on a first date sitting next to you like it just doesn't it's not exactly the most attractive thing when there is literally somebody like behind camera cleaning up chicken poop with a towel during your date did she bring her chicken pet to the house uh yeah i'm sure she did. The weird, I still will never get over how that girl had a pet chicken and she also ate chicken. I remember she was in paradise for like 12 hours and she was like, chicken's just

so healthy for you. Like I can't not eat it because of the health benefits. I'm like, bitch, come on now. You can eat a lot of things in replacement of chicken. Yeah, but actually, I got to be honest, I lived in Peru for a while and I ate guinea pig and I used to have pet guinea pig. And I pigs. You ate guinea pig and you had a pet guinea pig? Yeah, that's a thing. In Peru, you eat guinea pig and at one point in my life, I had pet guinea pigs and I'd still probably get a pet today if I could.

I don't get it. What do you mean you don't get it? It's the same thing. I mean, I don't get how you can do that. Oh, no, it's a little different. How do you separate that? That's like me eating a dog. Well, yeah, I guess in a sense it is.

well, you just understand that fluffy doesn't taste as bad as you thought he did. Oh my gosh, this goes back to all the things that you were brainwashed when you lived in the mid, you know, growing up in the Midwest, how your grandpa used to, no, whatever, we're not going to get him to do it. I was never brainwashed. We just like our animals. Like, we support, uh, we support the eating of animals. Um, I also support the non-eating of animals. So I support everything to guess. I don't know. Gotta throw the PC line in there. You know, you know, No, I had a stuffed animal, a stuffed animal lambie, who I still sleep with when I'm at home in Virginia. And I don't eat lamb to this day because I have my favorite stuffed lamb.

So you can just imagine how I feel about this chicken egg. This just points back, actually, to what I say over and over again. You have the most loving and intentional and deep heart of any person who ever met. And so you would have a stuffed animal that you felt in love with. And as a result, you can't even. neat lamb today. Anyways, I wonder this season coming up for Becca, we've met her guys.

Some of them are really great. I think we kind of go back to that very first interaction that she had after the bachelor season on after the final row. Some of those guys were really loved. And I remember watching the TV and seeing the reaction from some of the crowd. I think

Becca, I think the season for Becca, we're in for a good one. I think we're in for love for catchphrase is, let's do damn thing and Jojo's advice the Becca was stay in the moment I'm sorry Ben I need to interrupt because the surprise guest is on the line and I don't want to keep them

waiting oh okay wait Erica's in the room taping my reaction so now I'm freaking out it's got to be Lance Bass I have an idea should we play a game yeah we could have the guests disguise their voice disguise their voice we can do that and Ashley could ask yes or no

questions try to figure it out okay yeah all right i'm going to i'll explain that to the guest stand by mystery guest do not say anything please if you can disguise your voice because actually was going to ask you yes or no questions try to guess who you are so maybe use a falsetto or something but when you say yes or no try to disguise your voice as much as possible do you understand surprise guest of course i do perfect you guys can i just say that i my heart is beating right now i'm so nervous Amy's in here now Amy just walked in

and I'm so nervous I'm so sorry to like the audience who listens to be squealed Yeah actually focus Okay Ask your question Okay Were you in a boy band?

Quite possibly yes Are you about 38 or 39? Actually I'm a wee bit older than that sweetheart Oh Are you

in a boy band in the early 90s or the late 90s? I would say both. Both? Early 90s. You're not a new kid on the block. Deercon, no. Whoever you are, you do a great job disguising your voice. Well, you know, I spent years doing musical theater,

all kinds of filming TV things when I was a kid. So I've kind of developed a way to mask my voice if I have to. Have you been in any movies? I've only really been in one about two years ago that was really more so straight to TV. But it was so much fun actually filming in Butte, Montana, actually. One of the most random places I've ever been in my life. You were in one other.

I'm sorry? You were in one other movie that is slipping your mind, but you were, you had a very popular cameo in a movie. Are you Joey Fetone? No. Am I on the right track? Yeah, you're getting closer. You're getting closer, but still a wee bit off. Are you A.J. McLean?

Hello. Yes! Yes! That's amazing. Yay, hey, Jay. How are you, darling? Oh my gosh, I'm so good. How are you? I am doing splendid.

Driving in traffic right now. Did you know that I'm going to see you on Wednesday? I have heard rumblings, yeah. I'm not really sure what's going on, but I have heard rumblings, yes. Well, I know what's going on, but I can't reveal that either because it's going to be a surprise. to the audience that you're surprising. AJ, that accent was phenomenal, literally. Thank you.

Thank you very much. AJ. Why are you here? Why are you talking to us? Well, you know, I'm talking to you because we have a brand new single, our first single in five years, coming out on the 17th of this month, which is literally in three days.

Oh, my gosh. And also the same day, a video to, coincide with the new single, which is, the song was called Don't Go Breaking My Heart. And you guys are not ready. You're not ready for the single. You're not ready for the video. This is a game changer.

Absolute game changer. I cannot wait to hear it. Ben, do you care that AJ is on the phone right now? I definitely care. Hey, I would love to be able to react the same we actually did. A huge fan of you all. Thanks for coming on the podcast. You know, I got to give you a second here. So you've got new music coming out this

Thursday, but you are still, you still have a residency in Vegas, correct? Yes, we do. Yes. You know, it's funny. Initially, when we first put tickets on sale for the Vegas show, it was only supposed to be nine dates, then we added nine more, then we added nine more, then we added nine more, and then after that we added 52 more. 52 more So we are heading back to Vegas the end of July through August 12th

and then we go back again October November and then we finish up in February of next year and then we will be going on a world tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary this year and to support the brand new album.

Woohoo! I'm so excited. When does the album come out? We're hoping for the album potentially of all of this year. That's kind of what we're shooting for. We'll see. You know, there's so much going on right now, but we're definitely trying to just kind of lock everything down. But we pretty much cut, I'd say, a good chunk of the album thus far. You know, just kind of, basically just kind of honing in songs, picking out a track listing. We're still actually in the studio currently recording as well. You know, we're not 100% done. But we're also going to see

how the single does and just keep pressing forward. I mean, we're super stoked about everything right now. I mean, things have just been kind of really falling into place. We're getting so much love from both radio, press, media, and, you know, we just got off of our 6th

BSP cruise, which went splendidly. We were going to tease the single, but then we didn't, and fans are just chomping at the bit, which is awesome. You dressed up a scary spice on the cruise? Yes, I did. Which, did you each dress up as a different spice girl?

Yes, we each did. You know, it's funny because at first our stylist was basically trying to make me ginger and make Howie scary. I'm like, there's no way. That makes absolutely no sense. Oh, you're so scary. I have definitely scary spice. Brian was 40. Kevin was posh.

Nick, obviously, baby. And then Howie was ginger. Perfect. I think that's the perfect alignment. Absolutely. Absolutely. And we were the spice boy. That's awesome. I got to tell you a story.

We've actually been about 10 feet from each other here recently. And I'm just remembering this story now as we're talking. I was in Las Vegas. I don't know. I can't even say it was last year at some point. And I had a crowd of people around taking pictures with me. And it was getting a little bit overwhelming just because those streets get so busy. And once one person gets a picture, the whole kind of crowd turns and starts wanting

pictures as well. And I'm totally having a little bit of a moment because I start freaking out. And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, everybody's faces just turn and run away from me. And that's awesome. And the reason is because the backstreet boys, we're getting out of there, out of your van or limo at the hotel walking up the stairs. And so thank you for saving me. But also, I got a, I got a quick glimpse of your life. And that's what leads me this question. Looking at life right now, I got to ask this, is this still surreal? to you? I mean, people are massive fans. I've seen Ashley shed tears over the back street boys. Did you ever expect life to bring you to this point? You know, I mean, look, we always hoped and we

always dreamed, you know, that this would, you know, stand the test of time and that this could actually have legs and continue for years to come. But, you know, back in the 90s, things were different, and we just didn't know. And obviously, fortunately enough, we've been so beyond blessed and beyond grateful that we've been able to stand a test of time for 25 freaking years. Congrats on 25 years. Thank you. I mean, it's just, it's still a shock, you know, that 25 years for anyone that's in our kind of line of work as far as the boy band genre, it doesn't really happen, you know. And the fact that we've been able to stand the test of time to continue to put out great music,

to continue to have the most amazingly loyal fans, follow us through highs and lows and stay by our side, to still be able to sell out tours, now have a, you know, Las Vegas residency. And here we are about to release our brand new single and our 10th studio album. It's mind-boggling. It really is. But it's a true testament to our fans, and it's a true testament to the music itself. Hey, AJ, let's talk about super fans. Like, are they creepy?

Like, you love them. Like, you don't get tired of seeing my face, right? It's not creepy? Never. Never. No. I mean, look, it's funny because there's been so many fans that have been with us literally since day one.

And we've watched them grow up and start families, just like they've watched us grow up, get married, you know, also have families. And to see all these, you know, faces that we've seen since the beginning, they become kind of family almost, you know? Like, they literally know anything. and everything about us, and the same with us with them. Like, we can, you know, point them out of a crowd. We know them by name.

We ask, hey, how's your husband or, you know, how's your partner? How are your kids? You know, it's a very unique bond that we have with our fans that I think really, truly, like I said, is a testament to why we're still here. You know, we always try to go the extra mile with our fans. That's why we do our BSB crews. It's a very intimate experience. you know, we do our meet and greet still, you know,

we always try to go in the crowd for every show and, you know, give the fans that little extra something special, you know? You guys are so good to your fans. You really are so warm and welcoming and you say hi to everybody you possibly can. I was just thinking about, like, I saw you at that Lance party in March. I'm going to see you on Wednesday. Then I'm going to see you at Wingo Tango, KISSFM's Wengo Tango by AT&T on June 2nd. And then I'm going to see you again.

at the residency in July, and I'm like, wow, he probably thinks I'm crazy. No, no, I love it. And you just keep on showing up. You know what? We only have to worry when nobody shows up. That's when we're like, um, guys, uh, I don't know if this is going to work anymore. But people keep showing up. People literally, the love that we get from our fans and from media, press, radio, TV,

everyone is just, it's so heartwarming. because we really do love what we do and I do have to say if it wasn't enjoyable still we probably wouldn't be doing this I mean we truly are doing this because it is that much fun Ashley I have to ask you

I have to pause here and just ask why are you such a big fan of the Backthrough Boys yourself I mean you really are and you really love them you always tell me how kind and night show of the fans outside of any of that what brought you to become a fan of the Backtoe Boys truly their music is timeless

I just read little factoid that they still play I want it that way at proms now which is almost it's it's over 20 years about 20 years now right AJ 20 years today millennium oh yeah oh yeah easily like it is their music is timeless and they're the

they're the boy band that I have to say that our kids are going to listen to like they're going to be on the oldie station our kids are going to be downloading them or whatever it's going to be like that button in their brain a perfect example is my oldest Eva is my number one fan she literally walks around the house with her iPad playing our chapter one

greatest tips she knows every song word for it now recently daddy got trumped by the greatest showman which is one of the most Eva has fantastic taste oh my God like okay look I was sleeping on the movie because I've been traveling and I've been going nonstop for the past

probably three months between Backstreet and Solo stuff that I just haven't had time to watch it. And I watched the movie for the first time two nights ago. Bawka, baby. I've been living with the soundtrack every day because my daughter knows every word. What an unbelievable soundtrack. Like, you could listen to some of those songs on Top 40 Radio right now. And but you're absolutely right. Like, you know, Ava, she's five and she knows all the Backstreet Boys songs.

her favorite which I'm a little bit leery of is the call and I'm like well because you know it's basically talking about being a cheater so I'm like when you're when you're older daddy will explain to you why that song is kind of catch 22 babe but because she is recently becoming boy crazy which is giving me gray hairs well don't worry the boy's crazy thing it happens at like five six and seven then you think they're yucky for a while until you're like 10 or 11 Well, hopefully she thinks they're yucky until she's 18 and she moves out, and then I don't have to think about it. I really don't want to have to think about it, you know? Oh, my gosh. We could be on the phone with you forever. We did an entire segment on The Greatest Showman and how just, I haven't felt passion like that for a work of art in the longest time.

It was like for, for me, and this is no disrespect to, because I think Baz Luhrman is one of the most genius directors in the world. My wife's all-time favorite movie used to be. used to be, what still is up there, is Moulin Rouge. And she said, after seeing this, like, this is her new obsession. Because what she brought up, which is a really good point, is to kind of have this period piece with basically modern pop music thrown into it. Like, and from what I read, the guys that wrote the soundtrack, like, this is their first

ever, like, job. Like, oh, my God. Like, what an amazing start to a career. you know, writing these songs that are massive, and everybody killed it in the movie. I mean, everybody, I mean, Hugh Jackman, there's nothing that that man can do, literally, cannot do. Oh, it was so good. And I love the way that you feel the exact way I feel about it. It needs to go on Broadway, and I would love to have Hugh Jackman play the role for just three months.

You know, give us three months. I'll pay $1,000 a seat. I mean, honestly, yes, I think it should go on Broadway, but I think I should be Phineas T. Barnum on Broadway. Oh my God, AJ, don't put that in my head. Now I'm going to have to, like, make this happen. No, it has been a dream of mine to do Broadway since I was a baby. Like, I did theater growing up, and I've never had a chance to do Broadway. But if this ever does go to Broadway, which I think it would be stupid not to.

Yeah. I have to have to have to be up for the possibility of being PT Barnum. I would absolutely just die. You would be so fantastic. I have to give a little shout out to Mulan Rouge, since we're on the time. topic. This week, a preview of Moulon Rouge on Broadway came out. The new musical, it starts in Boston, but it's going to move over to Broadway later in the year. It stars Aaron Tivate, my absolute favorite Broadway actor, and it's directed by my favorite Broadway director,

Alex Timbers, and I could not be more excited. It's absolutely going to be fantastic. It's going to be greatest showman level. Okay, but moving on. Last question before we let you go, AJ. Your manager, your longtime manager, huge bachelor fan. Have you gotten into the show through her? I know that you were on Nick's season. Yes, and I did just see Nick at Atlanta's assistant Lisa's birthday party, and we were catching up. Oh, that's right. You know, and I, and I, it's funny, I actually drilled him.

I said, okay, do you have any recollection of any of the choreography that we taught you? And he actually remembered a little bit of backseat back, but then he was like, Yeah, that's all I got. But, you know what's funny? My wife watches the show. Jen did get me into it a little bit, but what show Jen really got me, like, over the top about to the point where, like, I've become friends with, like, the cast is big, is big brother. Like, I thought that that was, like, in my opinion, like, really watching a bunch of people

in a house for, like, 24 hours a day, like, how can that be enjoyable? Oh, dear God. Oh, dear God, I'm upset. Big Brothers, have you a comeback. AJ, did you watch Celebrity Big Brother? Because that was amazing. You know what? That was the only one I didn't watch.

And I also didn't watch season 19, which was strictly online. Like, I didn't really like, I don't know. But I was going to watch Celebrity. They actually asked me if I wanted to do celebrity. Pardon me, but we were actually back in Vegas during that February run. But one of my new now closest friends is actually Paul Abraham from season 16. Paul and I have become friends now for the last couple years. And one of the nicest guys in the world, he got shafted twice.

He should have won at least one of those times. But no, I mean, it's such a great show. Like, I can't wait for the summer for the next season. Like, I'm, like, chomping at the bit right now. So would you do the show if you had some time off? You know, I think I would if it was the celebrity one where the money you win goes to charity. Nice. Just necessarily in your pocket.

Then I would do it because I think it's only like a two or three week run. It's not like the full 90 days, you know? No, that's right. It's quick. I can't be away from my kids for that long. There's just no way. All right. Well, we can go on and on.

But just thank you so much for coming on. This has been a dream come true. My pleasure, darling. And I look forward to seeing you very soon. Before you go, I just want to let everybody out there know once again. On June 2nd, the Backstreet Boys, you will be at Wango Tango. Ashley, you're going to be there in the pit. So if anybody's listening right now,

make sure you buy tickets to Wingo Tango on June 2nd. But if you cannot buy tickets from what I understand, and please correct me if I'm wrong, you can watch Wingo Tango on Freeform on June 3rd, the next day, 8 p.m. So check out the Backseat Boys there. Perfect. Yes.

It's your second straight year at Wingo Tango. Yes, it is. And brand new single this Thursday, brand new video. And thank you for all. your love and support. Thank you guys so much. And I can't wait to see you. And I can't see what you think. You guys are Evergreens. Yes. I can't wait to hear the single and see you on Wednesday.

Bye. Sounds good. Bye guys. Bye. Bye. Bye, AJ. See you. How sweet was he? He literally could talk to us forever. He just is so nice. Were you surprised? I was very surprised.

When the camera came in here, I was like, oh, it's a boybender. It's definitely a boybender. They know there's no one else who can get me as excited. I am at the age where I've gotten to like I've like reverted to only getting excited over who I've loved since childhood

like everybody else like all these you know real big celebrities I'm like oh whatever hey hey but if I've loved you since childhood I get excited over you I mean actually just again let's take a step back okay take a deep breath and realize

that as a child you watch these you wore t-shirts of them I've seen t-shirts of boy bands that you've been wearing and now you're interviewing them and talking to them and I mean I don't know how long you just straight talk to that guy you've talked to your off for about 20 minutes is this weird for you it's it is the most surreal thing it's really one of the few things that gets me so giddy like my my pitch goes up a couple octaves it's so weird but when I found out that I was interviewing the backstreet boys on Wednesday and how I was covering Insynx star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame a couple weeks ago.

There's nothing better. I can't believe this is happening to me. I am a professional fan girl, and I love it. I could not ask for a better profession. You literally are a professional fan girl. Hey, Ashley, I hope when you go to these events and when you talk to the Backstreet Boys and you do the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they are able to see everybody super clearly. And if you're not, I've got the solution for you.

It's trouble. Ashley, are you tired of overpaying for uncomfortable contact lenses? Definitely. Do you overwear your contact lenses to save money? Sometimes. Do you wear contact? Sometimes when I need to read prompters and such. Okay.

So you definitely need help with your eyesight. Yeah. Too much I got near sight. I'm so near-sighted because of my phone and the computer. I just stare at it all day long and then I look up and I'm like, well, I can't see words the other side of the wall. I mean, honestly, from here in this, because you're using them

now and then, it sounds like Hubble would be perfect for you because you get a fresh pair of blends for every single day, and it's less money. 60 contacts for $30, do the math here. That's $1 a day. What? This is half the price of other brands.

Go to Hubblecontact.com and get your first two weeks for free. Ashley, I mean, you're throwing contacts in and out. It'd probably be awesome, wouldn't it? You just put contacts in, throw them in the trash when you're done. See, that's what I love because I don't wear them every day. I definitely need the kind

that you just use and then throw away. I can't have it sitting in the little case with liquid in it for too long. That gets grody. Yeah, it's disgusting. So let me tell everybody out there a little bit more about Hubble. We're going to do the point here. Quality things are the lenses for half the price of the other

guys. Hubble sells directly to you, the consumer, so they can offer contact for half the price. They can send you to the optometrics if you don't have a prescription today. Getting contact has never been more convenient and affordable. No more overpaying or overwearing. No more letting them sit in that nasty solution for weeks on end while you wait for the next time to put them in. So go to Hubblecontacts.com

to your first two weeks of lenses for free. That's 15 pairs of lenses for what? Three. So go to Hubblecontact.com and get 20-20 vision for half the price. Make sure to select our show at checkout. It's listed at Ben and Ashley, obviously. That's Hubble, A-B-B-B-B-L-E-E. Contact.com wear them. Get them. She clearly. You know, it's so funny when we start this show. I'm like, I have nothing to talk about. I don't know. What happens in my life? I'm not interesting. And then I'm like, we're reading through all this stuff. And I'm like, wait a second. I have to talk to this and I've talked about that. I have to talk about how surreal it is that I get to talk to boybanders on the reg. And I have to say that they make it so easy. Like you would think talking to your childhood crushes and icons would be so nerve-wracking. But they're so warm. and sweet. I just need to give him a little shout out for that. That's great, Ashley, but let's also give a little credit to the people individually. I'm sure not every boy bander

or every 90s, 2000s musician is super nice. I mean, AJ was incredible there. He made me feel comfortable, and I'm anxious and nervous all the time. I guess I have to also, like, I think it's particularly because of AJ who has made me feel so nice in the past. I remember this one time we were at

an I-heart event last year, and he came up to me. He was like, I've been following you on Snapchat and you're so funny. I'm like, what is happening? He follows me on Snapchat. And now Lance Bass follows me on Instagram, which, I mean, a pinnacle of my life. He commented it under my instinct picture the other day. And he was like, it was so nice seeing you, even though it was only for 10 seconds. Like, when I was at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they weren't doing interviews. But Lance came up to me and he was like, it's so good to see you. I'm so glad you came and blah, blah. I'm like, oh my God, this is so insane. My life is crazy um actually i got to i got to ask you a couple questions here um on okay so i'm a little

confused is our in sync and backseat boys like do they beat themselves as competitors like do they dislike each other was there is there a rivalry well that relationship like well as we are just talking about i last saw a j in march at lance bass's assistance party and how was at lance bass's assistant's 40th birthday party because my sister's boyfriend was DJing it. I didn't get invited. I don't want people to think I got invited. So they are friends. Like AJ was invited to a Lance party. They're all really, they're all pretty close now. But yeah, back in the day, of course, there were times back in the day where I was like, oh, I can't, I can't go to this concert or that concert because that would be, you know,

traitor like. But that's not how it is. We're all allowed to love everyone. That's a thing. But that's a thing. Well, yeah, but that's a thing actually back in the day in the boy band here. I forget this. And I honestly, I didn't. in terms of the boy bands. I was a 98 degrees guy. Ooh. But. Look at you being all unique.

So there was a rivalry there. What, is that unique? Is that kind of like edgy? It's definitely the, like, they never, I love 98 degrees too. My dad always said, find a man like Nicolet, a man who will go to Home Depot and do the things around his house himself, even though he can afford to pay somebody to do it. Ashley, you're going to be at Wingo Tango. So make sure everybody goes, check it out because all of this being said, I know I wanted to get my boy band knowledge in.

But I have to say, IHeart is helping put on Wingo Tango. It is a huge deal. It is going to be amazing. Go check it out. Buy ticket. You don't want to miss it. It's one of the biggest events of the year, right, Amy? Yes.

No, it's our biggest concert of the year. I remember when I was younger and I didn't live out in L.A. And before I was on The Bachelor, I would see pictures at Wango Tango. and I'd be like, I just want to go to L.A. and go to Wingo Tango. Now everyone can watch it on TV. So speaking of TV, remember Josh Murray? Of course we do.

So he is on the line. Okay. Here, I'm just going to throw this out there. I like Josh Murray a lot. Yeah. But he is a polarizing bachelor cast member. So before we talk to him, I want to see what you guys think because it's like, I like him, I want to like him.

Did he get a bad rap? Does he get thrown under the bus after? Like, what happens? Take it away, Ben. Oh, actually, yeah, I was going to say, oh, wow, silence on the podcast. The best podcast are ones that, you know, nobody talks on. Sometimes silence can say so much. I don't know. I don't know. I really, and I mean it, I don't know Josh, but I don't think any of us can sit here and say that maybe we, let's, you know what, we've gotten in trouble for this before. Let's bring him on. Let's ask him himself. Let's see, you know, what he has to say. About his own, like, character on the show. Well, before we talk about that, I need to give in my own little two cents just because I have had a season with Josh. I had such a huge crush on Josh during Andy's season. He was, I was like,

Please let that be my bachelor. And then I found out he won. And I was like, darn it. But, you know, just so charming and so insanely good looking. He's like a Gaston, like walking around Paradise. Like, just like, good morning, Ashley, as he does pull-ups on the doorway. He's such a character. And he was always nothing but so nice to me and so smiley.

And honestly, very easy to talk to. Everything that I've heard that is poor about him is not something. that I witnessed first hand necessarily, but through others. Okay, so yeah. I think you should tell him because I think it'll make him more comfortable. Okay. Are you out there? I'm here.

Hello, Josh. Joining the all-mice famous podcast. Ashley, I think we're just going to start with this. Josh, we were just talking a little bit about your story and your character through the shows. And before we get to kind of the amazing, cool stuff that you're doing today, Ashley kind of has her thoughts on you personally. and I want to hear it myself because, hey, let's not hide it.

We've heard a lot about Josh Bury over the years. Ashley, what are your thoughts? Okay, so Josh, I was just talking about how you are such as, yeah, a polarizing character. And while we've all heard things that are not so pleasant, I do have to say that I've never encountered that with you. Like, I was on a season with you

and you're nothing but super friendly and smiley and I even thought that on that season there was a lot of drama with Nick and I was I thought that that was overblown I really tried to stay out of that drama triangle for on that season because I always thought you were so nice to me and I never really saw anything but yeah but then I guess I do have to talk about

all the other I haven't experienced all the other like negative things that have been said about you because I guess I've never had like a really deep personal relationship with you but how do you how do you respond to all that you even have a book written about you well well before hold up before we get this going actually called you the Gassan of the bachelor world she says you would do pull up in the morning and say hello sir with a big smile on your face and you're super good looking he is so gas on like yeah it's all in that contact here yeah okay now go ahead Josh talk about yourself no it's very tough for me talking

about myself. So that's, that's tough right there. But I appreciate it, actually. Thank you. And it's, yeah, I guess it's been a struggle for a while because there's so much misinformation. Of course, I kind of stayed away from the bachelor world for quite a while. You know me. I had very genuine interest in buying somebody on the show. So I kind of just focused all my attention on that. And obviously it worked out twice, but then it didn't work out twice. And, you know, the person that I talk to you, and that's who I am. That's who I've always been. That's who I am when I'm not on camera. And there is a lot of a lot of drama that goes on in the shows, and I try my best to stay away from everything as much as possible.

But, you know, unfortunately on the shows, I was with two girls who were highly sought after by other individuals, and as much as I try to stay away from drama, as we know, television creates a lot of drama. There's a lot of things that happen, and, you know, it was very tough to be involved in that stuff. All I wanted to do was try to be friendly with everybody, to be honest with you. I've always been trying to you, Ashley, and everybody else that I've met, but there are other people in this in the franchise, obviously, who make friends with a lot more people. than I have because I, you know, was engaged a couple times. I live on the South, the East Coast.

So it's tough for me to talk to everybody. And, you know, but I just try to focus on the positive. I try to focus on good people in life, and I try to just move on and do good and not really worry about that stuff anymore. So, you know, people who meet me, you know, I hope they get a better understanding of who I am and not just sort of the edited character on television. I know all of us have been a part of certain kinds of editing on TV that we don't like, but, you know, it is what it is.

there's two words that I would definitely be you, I would use to describe you, and that would be passionate and competitive. I would say those are two very good adjectives to describe me as well. I've gotten a little bit less competitive as I get older. I kind of give in a little bit in certain things, but I'm definitely very passionate. And I guess one of the things over these years has been a struggle for me since being on the show and obviously having a book written is that there's a lot of misinformation and there's a lot of lies out there. And I'm someone who is, I try to be as honest as possible, and it's tough trying to stay above the fray and to try to be good and not say bad things or hurt other people, even though they've hurt you in many different ways. And that's been a struggle of mine because, you know, there's part of me that wants to say everything and tell the truth. And then part of me is like, just move on.

Who cares? You know, it doesn't matter. So that's definitely been a struggle over the years. But I've had so much support and so many people who know who I am, that's helped along the way. I mean, Josh, what I'm listening to here is you've obviously feel like the character that's been portrayed or the things that are about you are incorrect. How have you handled that personally? And do you feel like you've done a good job representing yourself and who you are in the public and in the relationships that you've been a part of? You know, I try to keep my, even though obviously, Ben, when we're on television, it's not a private relationship.

It's public. But once I am in my relationship outside of television, I really try to focus on keeping it private. it and doing the thing possible to keep that relationship going. And to really get to know that person after TV, you know, when we get engaged on television for a very short amount of time. And we really need to get to know these people outside of television as well. And as in any relationship, they're up and downs. But it definitely wasn't easy for a while in these relationships and the public eye and

everybody just examining every bit and piece of your relationship. And while I try to stay off of social media and what people said about me, others kind of got stuck into that, and it really affected relationships. And, you know, I just try to, day and day out just be me. You know, I don't want to be known as Josh Murray on The Bachelor. I'd rather be known as Josh Murray on an MTV show Champs for stars that's going out there and fighting and working hard for charity. That's what I really, really like, and that's what I'm about, is trying to get back,

and just to love and to be kind of people. So, you know, we all get a certain kind of edit on television no matter what. You know, if you don't listen to what certain high individuals have to say producer-wise, and sometimes you don't look bad, but there's no excuse for anything, and you live and learn and you move on. You've been on three reality shows now, champs first stars, the Bachelor franchise, and then also single, famously single. I have, yeah. Which one's the best experience, and which one do you think represented you the best?

Oh, without a doubt. The last show I was on was absolutely incredible, the MTV Champs for Stars. and I wasn't going to do it, but then when I was told that there was $150,000 going to charity of your choice, I definitely considered it, and I jumped in, and, you know, I do a lot of stuff with a charity called ESP Extra Special People, and I was on there and made the finals and almost won, but when I go back and look at the show and look how they showed everything, it was pretty on point. There wasn't need to be a lot of editing involved, and I really appreciated the honesty of the producers in that show, so I definitely had to be the most fun that I've had on a television show, and it was competitive. in a sense, you know, not competitive trying to find love, but competitive as sports style. You know, I think in relationships in general, and you might have experienced this, there's two sides, his, hers, and then what actually is the truth. And I think that's hard for people to realize when they're watching TV that it's like, you have a version of your reality, the girl has hers, but the truth is somewhere in the middle.

And, you know, I think that that becomes something we realize much, much later. Sure, 100% especially when you watch it. And, you know, I was pulled by the producer that set everything up that I was kind of, I was an easy target because I was coming off of, you know, a book that was written about me that was extremely false. And then it was an easy target to kind of get me going on when all I was focusing on was trying to be kind and then trying to see if I could find love on the show. So there's a lot of different motives that we don't realize so we look after the fact,

but there's a lot of things that, you know, I've learned from that I made mistakes as well. So, you know, it is what it is. I totally agree, man. I'm listening to you. What is, I think for everybody out there listening, we often, on this podcast, we try to be as vulnerable and authentic as possible so that we can relate with the listener. You have been engaged twice, and on the Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, honestly, and I think we could all admit, you've had two of the messiest breakups in Bachelor history,

or two of the most recognizable. What is something that you've learned about yourself, a mistake or a weakness, that has kind of been formed and transformed by being in the public eye and seeing some of this stuff play out on TV. Yeah, it's really tough because you start to examine yourself after two failed relationships on television and you don't want to put blame on the other person because obviously in any relationship, as we can all relate,

it's a little bit of both. But I've had to take a look at myself and kind of how I handle relationships or how I handle things when stuff is done. But, you know, I don't want to beat myself up too much. You know, it is television, and people really get into it quite a bit. But the reality is when you're there for two months on the first back threat

and two weeks on the second, you know, you try to fall in love. For me, I try to make it work a little bit too quickly. The one thing I've always been missing in life and I feel very fulfilled with everything is finding a white and having children. I love kids to death. And my mistake was pushing those relationships too much. Even in the middle both times, I knew that there was things that should have happened and I should have walked away in certain circumstances that I just,

didn't feel were right. And I kind of stayed, and I've learned that, listen, I need to experience all four seasons with somebody before I get engaged, before I make that huge commitment. I can't be pressured from the outside world and give in to those kind of pressures, and I can't live for everybody else. I need to do what I really feel is right, and not rush in the relationships, even though, you know, you want to please everybody. So I've kind of learned not to be as much of a people-pleaser anymore. I've got to do me because when I try to please everybody else by making relationships work that I haven't necessarily totally wanted to be in. It has just hurt both people in the long run. And unfortunately, you know, I think I've been the only

one to get engaged twice on the shows. It's not a very high success rate of people staying together and it's amazing the people that do. But yeah, you know, I have to, I just have to live and learn from all my experiences and hopefully I've become a better person because of it. Are you dating anyone now? I'm not. I'm not dating anybody right now. No. I mean, hey, I get it. I get everything you're saying. I mean, I'm happy that you are pushing, pushing on these shows for love.

I think that's one thing actually I always talk about is it's awesome when you see people go on to this show looking for a real love story to play out. I know for me personally, these shows have been a self-checker many times. I have realized that my reaction to things are, is absolutely awful, that I'm way over-sensitive and often push my relationship outdoors because of it. And that's one of the beauties of the Bachelor to me. We talked about it last week is these shows are a therapeutic session to really get a wake-up call to who we are as people. And so I guess from this podcast, we hope you find love.

And, actually, I don't know, would we like it to be on Bachelor in Paradise? For Josh's sake, because I know that he doesn't want to do Bachelor in Paradise or a spinoff show again, I'm going to say no. Yeah. I'd like to find someone in real life. You know, we talk about some of the negatives that happened because of the shows, and there were a lot of things that were very hurtful to me. the way things were portrayed, but at the same time, there was so many positives to take away from the shows. And like you said, then, you know, learning about yourself and what you need to improve upon, and I've learned a ton about that, is giving me a platform to do even bigger

things with the charities I've been involved with and to really spread awareness. So there's a lot of positive that comes with that. But as far as relationships, I'd really like to find someone in the real world so I can get to know them off the camera to make sure that they're not just putting on an act so people can like them, you know? It's a very different thing. Well, speaking of charity, you recently took a fan to her prom. Can you tell us about this story? It was honestly one of the best days of my life, but no joke. My brother and I helped host an event for ESP, for special people in Athens, and it was a pageant where all the kids and the young people who have disabilities, such as terrible palsy, autism, Down syndrome, they perform a talent in front of thousands of people.

And this girl, Mary Catherine, who is a beauty. she went on stage and instead of performing a talent she called me to the middle of the stage and she asked me to go to prom with her and I was speechless I honestly I started to tear up of course I said yes and you know a month later we had a prom a couple weekends ago and it was absolutely phenomenal it was actually my first prom I've ever been to as well and it was her senior prom so she just she looks gorgeous we had a great time and those are the kind of things that I really really enjoy doing and I was thankful that she asked me to it so it was a blast. Did you, uh, did you just say that you was your, it was your first prom?

My first prom. You know, back in high school, I tended to focus more on sports, my academics and really kind of took all the dances off, but this was the first time that I went to prom and I really enjoyed it. So it was a blast. As the hot jock, you didn't go to prom? I did. I didn't. I honestly, I was so focused on what I needed to do to get to the next level, um, just in kind of rehab and stuff from my surgeries and everything like that that, that I really didn't care to go to these dances and prom. I was just kind of tunnel vision focus. Crazy. And you're doing another thing for charity. It's a live bachelor auction. It's benefiting the Susan G. Coleman Foundation in L.A. on June 7th. It's called Babes for boobs. What is that all about? Babes for booze. Yeah. It's there for Susan G. Coleman, the chapter in L.A. and I participated in it last year. It's going to be incredible this year. What I'm going to be doing is me and Chase, we're going to be introducing a group of eligible bachelors. And we're auctioning them off for this.

dinner date. So all the proceeds are going directly to the Susan B. Komen, LA chapter, who's obviously their promises to save lives and end breast cancer forever. So it's going to be a blast. You know, the bachelors have an incredible time up there. Some even stripped down a little bit for the fans and everything like that. There's some higher bid. So it'll be fun. Girls in the L.A. area, think about it. You can go get a mega successful, as it says, mega successful man for a dinner date, woo him, and then

get a very successful boyfriend and benefit the Susan G. Coen Foundation? That's a great night. You should definitely go. It's going to be a blast. I think I actually need to go and you just bid on somebody. It's for a good cause.

And then needs to be one of the backslash. I mean, come on. Take you man. Everybody was going to bid on you. Ben? It sounds like a great event. Yeah. I mean, I I'm all for getting bid on, and I'm all for trying to help you out. This, you know, Josh, you're obviously staying very busy with all these events. And I guess from everybody out there, thanks for raising some awareness and money for charity. Also, thanks for doing this in the name of The Bachelor.

You know, The Bachelor gets a bad rap sometimes, and we all know that this show isn't as bad as sometimes the rap it gets. So, hey, Josh, man, thanks to come on the podcast. Anything else you want to talk about before you go? No, not at all. Thank you guys for having me. I appreciate it. I'm glad we're raising awareness for all this stuff. And congratulations to you guys.

Very successful podcast. And hopefully you guys can have me on again. So I appreciate it. Well, thanks for being here, Josh. Maybe I'll see you on June 7th. I'm moving to L.A. in June for two months. I have business out there. So I'll run into you, I'm sure.

All right. I'll see you then. Okay. Bye. Bye, guys. Here's what I'm going to say. He is polarizing. So I would like.

to know what the fans think of that interview. That's great. Why don't they email us and tell us what they think? Yes. Please do, you guys. It's Ben and Ashley at iHeartMedia.com. We want to know all your thoughts on Josh Murray and that specific interview. I don't know if there's been anybody ever be as polarizing in Bachelor Nation.

Maybe Nick File. I mean, I don't know. Nick isn't as polarizing as it used to be nothing negative towards him. But once he did the Bachelor, people pretty much love. love him or and like him. Once he did Bachelor in Paradise. Yeah. Josh Murray

stands the test of time. Yeah, I don't know. I just want to hear your thoughts. That's what we're going to do here. I also want to hear everybody's thoughts on Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the leading meal kit delivery service in the U.S. And while many people know what Blue Apron does, many

don't know about the types of meals you can eat when you get Blue Apron. I wonder if they have pizza for him I was going to ask him about the because obviously they dubbed it over they used the same over every pizza scene and over every makeout

scene but it's still funny and I hope he has a sense of humor about it because I mean I thought I was TV gold it was amazing no a lot of that was there's just a lot going on right now in my mind you're not just having burgers for dinner you're making short rib burgers with a hoppy cheddar sauce on a pretzel bun or a steaks with thyme pan sauce and mashed potatoes, green beans, crispy

shallots, all in under 45 minutes without a trip to a grocery store. Ashley, you like Blue Apron, don't you? I do. It's really, really delicious. I love that. It has all these fresh ingredients. And the recipes, they vary all the time. It's Blue Apron's mission to make incredible home cooking accessible to everyone,

even those people who don't necessarily know how to cook, like me, but they make it so easy. Did you hear what Blue Apron's doing with Chrissy Teigen? Yes, that's what I... That's kind of rad. Yeah, no, I wanted... I want to do the Chrissy Teigen thing. So, Chrissy Teigen, you know, she's really known for her home cooking. She just makes...

She makes meals that you'd think that a model can eat, but she eats them, and I love that. So they're using some of her recipes. Six recipes. Six of her recipes in the Blue Apron boxes. I really want to get hers. That's just like, it's such a... It's such a great gimmick. I am going to buy it.

It's coming in June. I think that that's kind of rat. It's really cool. But this month in May, you can get pork chorizo tacos with radishes and roasted potatoes. Sounds a really, that sounds is a perfect summer meal. Salmon and spicy orange salsa with quinoa and carrot salad. Also very summery. And white cheddar cheeseburgers with balsamic glazed onions.

Yeah, it's not just a regular cheeseburger. It's a white cheddar cheeseburger with balsamic glazed onions. glazed onions. Blue Apron is offering our listeners their first three meals for free. When it comes to dinner, let Blue Apron take care of the planning and shopping while you do the cooking and eating. You'll enjoy delicious meal like popcorn chicken and sweet chili cabbage sloth and cumin spice wonton noodles with vegetables and peanuts on the table in less than 30 minutes. With incredible ingredients and chef-designed recipes, Blue Apron, let you see what the power of food can do for you. Ashley, you're a big foodie. Oh, my. Let's get some Blue Apron.

Apron. So check out this week's menu and get your first three meals from free at Blue Apron.com, backslash Almost Famous. That's blue apron.com. Backslash almost famous today. Blue Apron, a better way to cook. Let's talk about Josh. I have some gut, so I'm going to say. Okay. You can say things. I'm going to stay quiet. Well, no, you're not. No, you're not. Because I like him. I have hung out with him. I went to Disneyland with him a few years ago with Amanda, and I had a really good time with him and an interesting conversations and all that. I think here's what I'm going to say is that he does not hold himself accountable for his mistakes. That was my interpretation of the interview, that it becomes

someone else's fault maybe. Did you guys get that? That it's like a producer or her or the book or this where we all need to sometimes go, you know what? I got engaged too soon. I messed up. whatever, you know, sometimes maybe that's it. Yeah. Because I like him. Well, I think, I think it's okay in life. I mean, I think I did a dead bitches podcast or a segment a few weeks ago. You know, one of my biggest pet peeves, and I think this is why, like, I'm sitting here,

my, my, my, my can't even swallow is, um, you know, this is me to be wrong. Well, like, you just, I'm tight and I'm like, I'm just a little bit like that interview rub me a little Because it's okay to be wrong, and I think he is. Amy, he's told me amazing things. I've never met, Josh. You never met him? No, I haven't. It's totally okay to be wrong, and it's totally okay to own up to your mistakes.

And I think this is a good lesson for life for all of us, is, you know, sometimes grace and acceptance is needed, even in the midst of difficulties and mistake. So, yeah, I just, I, I, I want people to, you know, to take a deeper breath and relax and know that, hey, you don't have to be perfect. None of us are. Right. You know, that's kind of it. It's just, you make a good point. We all have. He might put a lot of pressure on himself to be perfect.

Oh, definitely. And my thing is, I'm sure Andy's version of events or Amanda's version of events are not 100% accurate either. that's why I kind of said like it's somewhere in the middle but I don't know that everyone's willing to admit their part in the mistakes made quite possibly

here's the thing I get it we all strive at you know a lot of us have fears of failure a lot of us have fears of messing up and I don't know you know where the intentions lie but as long as we're able to mess I admit it when we mess up, there's a ton of opportunities for growth.

And I think that's the awesome thing about this show about life in general is that all of us know that none of us are perfect. And it's kind of this thing, and I wonder not to get off on the tangent, it's kind of this thing in this new social media world where everybody looks perfect all a time. Everybody looks like they're always doing so great things. I mean, one was a lot of times somebody posted a picture of them making a mistake? That just doesn't happen.

And so we live in this world where the only thing we see is perfection. That's true. And it's very bad. I mean, it's really scary because, you know, Instagram makes us feel really bad about everything. I try sometimes to just really take a break from it all. Ben, do you ever do that where you just don't look at social media? Because it can feel like your life isn't as good as everybody else is. Oh, all the time.

100%. I mean, I have a huge thing where I, especially recently the last few months, just, you know, I'm working for Generis. And Generous is an amazing company that's going quickly. But I'm not getting paid through Generals. Like, this is a job that I work, you know, 10 hours a day on that I don't get paid through. And so what happens is there's moments in my life where, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I've had to start budgeting for the first time and a long time.

And I've really had to start, you know, taking, being conscious of my decisions. I mean, my car right now, I don't have anything like breaks and the computer system is blown. And I'm not buying a new car because I don't know if it fits into my budget. And so I've started to look around me and go, what's wrong in my falling behind is, you know, am I not doing as well as the people that exist in this world as well. And I realize that I'm very happy. And that the only times I get super down on myself is when I'm looking around me at everybody

else's life. And I'm looking on social media. Who's traveling to what location and who's going to what festival and who's going to what concert and who's posting about this and that? So, Amy, yeah, I do. I really had to start doing that because I just realized I was getting in a pretty dark place if I didn't. You know when I really don't look at social media?

And this is like, I'm really showing you guys my insides here on every single holiday. I hate looking at social media on holidays. Really? I just feel like people feel pressure to post things and be like, look at my perfect family. Look at my perfect Christmas. Look at my amazing New Year's. Look at how great my Valentine's Day was. And I'm just like, can I please stick my head in an oven?

I hate the peer pressure to have to take a picture to prove that you have a wonderful family. Like even on Mother's Day, which, yeah, I'm obviously. I'm obsessed with my mom. My mom is the greatest in the entire world. I'm the most blessed. But she doesn't have an Instagram, you know? I posted with her, honestly, because of the peer pressure of it, because I know that she's not going to see it.

And it's just like, oh, I just want to prove to you guys, like, don't forget. I don't worry. I didn't forget my mom today. Here she is for all of you to see, not her. I mean, I don't, I honestly don't get it. We don't need to post. I don't know. I don't know.

there's a lot of peer pressure when it comes to holidays and showing off what you're doing. And it's not what's important. Be in the moment. That's right. And speaking of holidays, I called my mom yesterday. I think, I don't know if you saw us on Twitter. I called her. I was still, you know, I still pumped there doing a little trip right now.

And I said, Mom, happy Mother's Day. She goes, oh, the fruit of my loin. I know. I saw your tweet. Is that not the weirdest? I mean, that is the most disgusting image and thought. And the statement I've ever heard of before. When I saw you tweet that, I was like, wow, when I really take apart the words in that phrase, it's pretty gross.

Oh, the fruit of my loins. Anyway, the truth is this. None of us are perfect. We don't have to be perfect. We're all trying to try and the best we can. So anybody out there listening, take a deep breath. I realize we're all in this together. We all hate holidays.

We all hate holidays. I don't hate holidays. I hate the fact that during holidays, you're so focused on getting the perfect picture and not being with your family because you need the perfect picture to post on Instagram so that other people who don't really know you think that you're having a great time. Here's what I'm happy about. We made it through all my least favorite holidays. And now we are into my three favorite Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

Those are my three favorite. They're really nice. Because it's like you can do nothing. Yeah, they're the holidays that you appreciate more as you get older. You don't have to feel like pressure on those days. You know what's stupid that I've come across lately? It's in line with people taking pictures and posting them and proving that they're having a good time. Why do you tape an entire concert on your phone?

Why can't you just enjoy the concert and be in the moment? Because you're taking video of it to prove to people, I think, to post so you can prove to people, to people that you were there, but then one, you're not in the moment and two, you're never going to watch that video back. Have you ever been lying in your bed at night and you're like going through old pictures, which I like to do sometimes? I'll be like, I'll look at my pictures all the time. But I'll never click on a video from a concert and be like, I want to watch this now. You'll never see me with my camera out at a concert. I only do it for 15 seconds. I'll do it for the Instagram story. And that's it.

Why do I want a picture from a thousand million miles away? Yeah, there's that too. It doesn't even matter if you're in the third row. It still looks like you're super far away. So when I was younger and I was at boy band concerts, I would take my camera and I would take pictures the entire time because I'd want a picture to blow up. And that's what I did. I would like blow up poster sized things for my wall. But now I don't understand it. I don't understand being an adult and taking videos at a concert.

Ben? I don't go to many concerts that I've never been to a boy band concert. so I yeah just watch the concert maybe I didn't know this was a thing so I'm learning as we go I do see a lot of the stories being pulled on Instagram

at concert Ashley hey we got to transition really quickly into our email segment but before we do that I have a question I've been dying to ask you for the last few weeks if you were to do

one reality show outside of the Baxter franchise what would it be it might be Survivor just so that people could laugh at me just for the just for the sake of other people's entertainment just for the comic relief well one thing about Survivor that I've heard is they don't get a lot of sleep on Survivor but I bet they would if they had a sleep number bed on set every day you heard me talk about my sleep number bed and how great a sleep I get every night my sleep number setting I I've increased my number to a 90 my sleep number sleep IQ score last night, was a 75, maybe you've considered a sleep number of bed, but thought you couldn't afford one. But can you really afford another restless night's sleep? I wonder that.

I question that. That's a great question. How long do you sleep at night? I have to say I sleep pretty well. I know because you sleep on a sleep number. Before you do anything, you've got to go to sleep number store and experience the adjustable comfort of a sleep number bed. So many couples disagree on matches firmness.

That's the thing. Amy, you and I don't. So I don't know what that means. Sleep number of beds let you choose your ideal firmness on each side of bed. So you can figure out what is best for you personally. Sleep numbers are smart, effortless, and comfortable. The sleep number beds let you choose the comfort and support that's right for you. It adjust on each side.

So it's the perfect bed for couples. I don't know what that means for me. I just sleep in my sleep number alone, but that's fine. Do you sleep only on one side? This is the cool about my life right now. And I've said this on this podcast before, is I actually. adjust each side separately. So like in the middle of night, if I need to roll over to get a little more firm or a little softer, I can do that. So it's actually like for me, sleeping in two beds

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It's going to be awesome. Go to sleep number.com today. Hey, Ashley, we've got a few emails. I'm going to let you pick the first. You got a good one for us? This is from Susie, and I would really like to get Susie on the phone if we're able to.

She is in my I Don't Get a podcast group. She's a great fan, and this is what she wrote to us. I'm writing you to ask you guys if you would like to create a Facebook group for the podcast. I'm an active member of the amazing. I don't get a group, and I think it helps to engage new people.

It also, just my own little side note, helps us figure out what to talk about on the podcast, what people really love and what people don't really care about. Now going back to Susie, we comment about the podcast and others get curious and listen to know what we're talking about. And then she continues to say, I've created the group and she's ready for it to be open if we allow it. And I believe Susie's on the podcast. And I am just so excited that Susie's here and getting to talk to Ben, her ultimate celebrity crush.

Hey, Susie. How you doing? Dying, obviously. Hi. Hello. Hey, guys. How are you? We're so good.

How are you? I'm freaking out, but I'm trying to maintain my confluptuous. By the way, I'm sorry if my English sucks, but I speak honest. So, bear with me. your accent is beautiful oh thank you so how will this work the facebook group well um i do know there's a great community on facebook that we've created with the ad and get it right but um the almost the almost famous podcast also has a great community and support on facebook so we've been thinking about doing one uh to support the podcast too because there's there are like different topics right

And we also want to discuss better nation, and then we're just our favorite, so we want to teach about so many things on the Facebook group, and we thought that we would create a, you know, a place where it's like to teach about everything we want. We want to know who the heck are some people that we have to know the idea about, and so, yeah, I reached out and you guys were kind enough to tell me to. Go ahead. I have to say, it has been so helpful for the I Don't Get a podcast. It's given us so many topics to discuss that we wouldn't have thought of ourselves.

And yeah, you're right. We would love some Ben Bitch's topics and we would love to know who you guys want to know more of and who the heck are you. And of course, if we talk about something too much or we talk about something too little, you guys can let us know. And then you're right. It creates this great friend group, really. It also helps with the audience because, like, for the I don't get it, so many times, they start discussing the podcast, right?

Mm-hmm. So many of the girls who haven't heard that episode yet, they will have to find the episode, listen to it right now, so they can come in in the conversation. Susie, I am so pumped that you're joining this team. You're going to help us out so much. This is a great way to connect. Thank you for listening to the podcast. I know Ashley really appreciates your work with I Don't Get a podcast and the future is very bright for your involvement with the Almost Shaman. Wow, I've been banned.

That's amazing. I started using Facebook again because of the I Don't Get It group because it's so entertaining and it's so much fun to chat and look at all the topics on. So I'm excited to have another reason to go on Facebook now with the All-Gentuck. Most Famous Podcast Group. And what do people do in order to find it? They just type in Almost Famous Podcasts in the search bar on Facebook? Yes, exactly. Or Facebook.com slash group.

That's almost famous podcast. And they will find it. Perfect. All right. Well, I'm so excited to see people join this week. Is it open to all members or do people need to get approved? We've said three questions that are really helpful for you guys if you want to get them. And we asked about what do they want to hear about what was their favorite episode so that we can call it better, but everyone is the second.

I think that you guys vet for the I Don't Get It and you also vet for Help I Sucka Dating. So let's go ahead and vet ours too. I mean, I'm going to go on in here and say please then join the group. Please, I join the I suck a dating group because everyone wants to talk to you. I would love to talk on the group in Facebook. I'm not a Facebooker. You will be now. I would love to be a part of this.

I will be now. Susie, thank you so much for organizing the podcast group for us. I can't wait to start discussing in it. Okay. Thank you guys. All right. Thanks for being here. Bye.

Bye. Ben, you have no idea how fab it is to have a Facebook group. I truly, it was truly the reason that I got back into Facebook and I started checking it regularly. You're going to really enjoy it. It's fabulous. and it's fun. I'm not sure if it's fit,

but you know what is Fab Fit Fun? The Fab Fit Fun box, which is delivered directly to your home once every quarter. Chloe Kardashian loves it. Bethany Frankel loves it. Martina McBride and Ashley Tisdale and Ashley Simpson and Nikki Reed

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Like they're actually, they sell out, I think, every, every season now. So make sure you get out there early. Purchase your fat-fit fun box today or as soon as possible. I'm telling you. Yeah. Ashley. Yeah, you're telling me. Before Ben Bitches, do you guys see that a Bachelor got married?

Oh, yeah. So apparently Jerry O'Connell got married over the weekend to a Playboy Bunny. Not Jerry O'Connell. He's married to Rebecca. What was his name? Charlie, Ben, did you ever watch that season with Charlie O'Connell? No. I mean, honestly, when I got the news of this today, I had no clue who this guy was. There had to be a long time ago.

I don't, I mean, so if you saw him or heard his name, would it ring a bell that he was one of your fellow bachelors? Yeah. I mean, I knew that the O'Connell name was on there. I mean, he's 43 years old. So I bet he was the bachelor of what? I mean, we got to think 15 years ago. Yeah, he was a better. time ago. How many years ago did Ben say? 15. I think it was 15, Amy. No. No way. Mark's looking it up right now. No, it's like 12 or 13.

The girl he married looks exactly like the girl he picked on the show. Google it, you guys. Have to tell me that I'm not wrong. That's really funny. There's somebody else in the Bachelor community who has a whole bunch of exes that look the same. Is it you, Ben? Wait, do I? No. Do I?

I don't know. What does your girlfriend look like? Like your girlfriend before Lauren? Yeah. No, she's a brunette, really beautiful, tall brunette. I mean, both very pretty, but definitely don't look alike. Not at all. Okay.

Charlie O'Connell was the Bachelor in spring of 2005, so 13 years. Yeah, see? Very close. I mocked Ben, but I was wrong. So there was not, was there, okay, so Jerry O'Connell, there wasn't a Baldwin, was there? No. Oh, for some reason, I feel like there was a Baldwin bachelor as well. There was a Baldwin, Andy Baldwin, but he wasn't a Baldwin, like related to Alec.

Oh, he wasn't related? No. Oh, I always thought he was related. No, you thought they had a fifth brother? There's so many Baldwin brothers. Of course I thought there was another one. In 2007, Andy Baldwin was the bachelor, but he's not. related to Alec, Daniel, Stephen, or Billy.

Oh, okay. If a Baldwin was a bachelor, that would be one of these best things I've ever witnessed. I think no baldwins are single, or I would kind of be into that. You ship it. That's something I've learned. Yeah, something I learned on this podcast that you'd ship it. I'll let's hear what Ben's going to bitch about. Okay.

Ben, what are you going to bitch about? Uh, is it time? It's time. Yeah. Do you feel ready? Yeah. I feel ready. This came up today.

I've had a lot of time to think about this segment. Obviously last week, um, I, I passed it off, uh, to the, to keep, you know, myself free from rage. Um, and this week actually just came to my mind today. Okay. Uh, I get mad about a lot of things, but there's very few things I get madder about. than feeling dumb for inappropriate reasons. And one thing that always makes me feel dumb

are those stupid security check codes that you have to type in when you have to change your password to prove you're not a robot. Do you know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Oh, my God. This sucks.

Yeah, rewrite, like, capital R, lower, C. Then you have to guess if it's an L or an I with a three in the middle and it's twisted sideways. I mean, this stuff, part of my friend, is bullshit. It makes me feel dumb every time. I never get it right. You never get it right.

I just feel blind. I had to do it nine times. Exactly. I have to then prove to my computer that I'm not a robot. Why for any reason in the world do I have to prove to my computer that I'm anything? That computer should be worshipping me. They should be doing everything I asked of it. That computer is my tool to use, and instead it's questioning me on a robot or a human,

which then confuses me because I get confused if I am a robot or human, or if I'm just so stupid that I've forgotten my alphabet and my numbers. I am sick and tired of these things. Come up with another way to prove my identity. I'm done with it. That's my bitch segment. Take them off. Ben, I've never heard you so angry before.

Ben, this is the best thing that you thought of because I swear to God I was doing this last night. I was trying to email a sex expert weirdly. Yes, I swear to God, this famous sex expert, and you had to type that in to prove you're not a robot. I swear to God, a rectangle was one of the things. Is there, I spent... It's unbelievable. I spent 20 minutes looking at my keyboard for a rectangle.

Is there a rectangle? Does anybody see a rectangle? Because it was on three of the codes. So I kept having to be wrong, wrong, wrong. Was it D? It was a freaking rectangle. I'm not... That's crazy.

It does work. Ben, I can't even handle that you just did this because it is so true. Mark, you're in studio there. Do you agree with this? Yeah, he agrees. It's just universal? Last night, I was doing the one. I was trying to get my daughters signed up on the American Idol app so they could vote. And they do the one where it's select all the squares that have a street sign in it. And I couldn't figure that one out because like the corner of a street sign was kind of a square. I'm like, I'm sorry, kids, I don't know how to do this. Or there's like a building and you're like, is that a sign? I don't know what's happening. That's funny.

It really just makes me feel blind. Not dumb, but blind. It makes me feel a lot of things, all of which I'm very insecure about. There's one thing, though, out there that does not make me feel insecure. One thing that doesn't make me angry, and that is one of our favorite sponsors, BioClaity. I actually was working at an event this weekend, and one of my good buddies, he's 24. years old, he struggled with skin, his skin his whole life. He mentioned to me in passing, he goes, hey, from listening to your podcast, I purchased

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We have a really special guest coming up on the 22nd of this month. We're about eight days away from a podcast that I think will blow people's mind. I'm so pumped for. Today's podcast was great. We got the fan girl out with AJ. But we have Becca, the actual Bachelorette coming on the podcast for one of her first interviews. Are you excited about this? I'm so excited. I'm glad we have an entire hour with her so we don't have to rush. She's just going to show her shining personality. And I think it's a great way to get the audience pumped for the start of her season on the 28th of May. She's a Minnesota girl. from Pryor Lake and currently lived in Minneapolis.

Do you think she's going to go after the, like what kind of guy do you see Becky going after? I think she's going to go after like a Midwest sweetheart, just like a really down-to-earth guy. I actually don't think she's going to be the kind of bachelorette who gets caught up in the appearances. Like if there's like a super hot guy, I don't think she's going to be completely drawn to him just for looks.

I think that she's going to be into guys that for their personality, genuinely. I think so, too. I feel like Becca just kind of represent everything the Bachelorette is. I mean, a lot of our Bachelors have, but, you know, she's been brokenhearted on national TV. She has a great job. She's a Midwestern girl. I think Becca represents a lot of the stuff that we're going to root for and cheer for as a Bachelor. I'm personally really excited to get to know her better.

I've never had a conversation with her. Have you? Yes, I have. I did an interview with her for Cosmo on one of her, her first one-on-one dates, and she really liked that guy. And I'm excited to see how far this guy goes. I think he could get up there. So for all the listeners out there that are currently listening to the podcast, we are going to have Becca on again on the 22nd of this month. That will be two podcasts away from now.

Please write in at Ben and Ashley, iHeartMedia.com. Send us your questions. any thoughts on Becca anything you're excited about and we'll try to wrap through I mean I think we can do a full segment with Becca on firing some questions from our listening also you guys don't even have to use the email if you join the Facebook group the almost famous Facebook group and one of my first questions I want answered on the Facebook group is spoilers do you guys like it if we tease spoilers that we get a hold of or should we just not talk about them at all that's a great question Ben what are your thoughts on that too because there was an article on

TMZ this weekend that revealed one of Becca's hometown date guys. And I wanted to get your take and Ashley's take on it. And then everyone listening, should we talk about those stories or not? You know, the thought is, to me, I don't know if those small spoilers are a problem because from what I understand, and I know this to be true, in Denver, when there was a hometown date, it was very public. I mean, they were tweeting about people should go to this event and go to this date. So the bathroom is obviously not trying to hide that there are hometown dates existing and who's on them because they're inviting the public in.

And as long as we don't ruin the major aspect of the show, we should talk about it, right? What do you think, Ashley? I kind of agree with you on that. Like, if they're not doing anything to stop spoilers and they're inviting the public, how can we not talk about it? But at the same time, when I saw this sheet of paper in front of me with spoiler alert on it and a guy's name, I am kind of disappointed because I don't want the sheet of paper. show spoiled for me. So I guess if we do talk, I mean, whatever, it's going to be spoiled for me. It's just how it

goes. But if the fans don't want it spoiled, then what we're going to have to do is literally be like, spoiler, spoiler, and give them the direct time is when they can start to listen again. We could make all our spoilers like one minute and length so they know they can come back. Like we'll time it. Let's not get too

spoily though. I don't want to become that, I don't want to become those spoiler-esque podcast where, you know, we're dropping these bombs on people to ruin the season. Let's just always stay in the line of hinting or like kind of, you know, tipping off a little piece of the franchise that we think will make it more interesting. You know, something to make it a little more engaging for the audience. Okay. Like, you know, the R.E. Spoiler last season, I think, was great. Yeah. Just the one big one. Some people were not happy when we revealed that. So we have to trust Ben. We'll just trust Ben.

Okay. In Ben, we trust. That is true. All right. Well, I want to say a huge thank you to Agent McLean for dedicating so much time to be here today. What a sweetheart. And then Josh Murray, thanks for coming on, especially when, you know, a lot of people are going to talk about this interview and, you know, pick it apart, I'm sure. They, yes, and I think they will.

And, yeah, seriously, Josh, I know you're risking a lot by coming on the podcast. And really speaking about this stuff in general. So thanks for coming on the podcast today. Please write us in about your thoughts on that interview and kind of, you know, all the scrutiny that he's faced over the years. Also, thank you to Susie for creating our Facebook. group, that is a huge deal. She should be celebrated and she has joined our team.

And I think, I mean, I think everybody here from I heart to Ashley and I, we're excited to kind of enhance our presence in the social sphere. And I think this Facebook group is a great way to do it. So, Susie, thank you for listening and thank you for taking the next step and getting involved more. Ashley, the great co-host. Have an amazing week. I will see you in Las Vegas.

to do a live podcast from Las Vegas that will air. Amy, when will that air? That day. So we're going to do it live from Vegas on Thursday, this Thursday. So we, the last week, we teased a very special thing that's going to happen this week. What is that special thing? We can reveal it, Ben. Do you want to reveal since it has to do with you?

Yeah. I would love to. This is such a big deal for me and one that I just still can't really understand. And, you know, quite honestly, it's kind of funny. I now get to pay money to play myself. And what I mean by that is I have a, along with a couple of their bachelor guys, we have a slot machine going into the MGM casino in Las Vegas and it's being revealed this week. So I have to pay money to play myself.

You have to pay me. Go out to Vegas, go to the MGM Grand, play the bachelor stop machine. It's actually a ton of fun. You know, I just think this week is going to be one that is a little surreal. And now I'm sure I'll be getting text and pictures all over the place from people at Visit Vegas and see my mind bug come across the screen and say, sorry, you've lost one. Wait, Ben, Amy, can we talk about, can we tell people on what time we're going to be there on Thursday? Sure.

Okay, so if you guys want to come see the reveal of Ben on a slot machine, we'll be at the MGM Grand at 11 a.m. on Thursday hey we'll see you there with that this has been season five episode seven of the almost famous podcast i've been ben i've been ashley see you later follow the ben and ashley i almost famous podcasts on i heart radio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts