The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Sausage Party
Episode Date: February 13, 2024It’s another week of Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor! Ashley addresses how she got involved with the Sydney/Maria controversy and she reveals the advice she gave Sydney ahead of this week�...��s episode. Joey and the ladies are heading to Malta! Ben shares a secret of how they kept the show a secret when showing up in a foreign airport with a ton of Bachelor contestants. Plus… what goes down in the Sydney and Maria group date???See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious.
Wait a minute, Sam.
Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit.
Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.
This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot.
He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her.
Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.
Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate.
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This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with IHeart Radio.
My goodness, we're here for another week of Bachelor Recap. Yes, we are in episode four. We'll be breaking down episode five tomorrow because that's obviously when it will be out.
So far, Ashley, this season, I feel like we're.
breaking down
a historically good bachelor season.
Like, it's been a lot easier to watch
and to follow along with than most seasons.
I also want to start this podcast, Ashley,
was saying that I think you've received
some unwarranted criticism over the last week.
We're going to talk a lot about that,
about your support of Sydney.
I want to share two sides of that story.
Sure.
But today we have a lot to talk about.
Here's, as this week went on,
I still firmly stand by what I've said about Sydney.
I hope none of it is coming off as a personal attack against Sydney because, again, I don't know Sydney.
I am only criticizing the behavior that has existed on television.
But you do know Sydney.
you know her personally.
And I would say out of everything else,
do I still think you're wrong in some of your takes 100%.
That's why this is great.
We can disagree.
I don't think you're right at all.
But I do think there is a place for you to be celebrated here.
I'm celebrating you for standing by somebody that I know you have a personal relationship with,
even in the midst of probably some scenarios.
I'm assuming I don't want to speak for you.
You can answer this.
That you're like, yeah, I don't know if I like that.
either, but I don't want to pile on to the already excruciating experience.
I'm sure she's having, watching this show back.
Totally.
Because especially in this episode, there are times where I'll say in our recap, like, I'm like,
I know what happens and I know it happens like from Sydney's perspective in talking to her
off the mic and all that.
And I can still say that I think she's made mistakes.
mainly the
mainly the use of the term
verbal assault and then bullying
I think that even if
there's a lot of context
and scenes missing
which who says that there are
I think that you do get an allusion to it though
with Leia in this episode but we'll
say that for later I think
that is her biggest mistake
or throwing out those terms
because that makes those are just really like trigger words for a lot of people
because I don't think even if Maria is saying
she's dumb, she's embarrassing, blah blah, you know, name calling.
I think verbally abusive is a tad harsh and exaggerating.
Definitely. No, I would agree with that.
I think that that's her number one mistake is, you know.
I do think that is her number one mistake.
I think that the theory that we've had at the beginning is she got mixed up into something
and she did a really bad job at getting herself out of it or just moving on from it.
She just didn't want to.
Yeah.
And you see that with the show.
It's such an interesting thing when you see contestants kind of get mixed up into something
that they're like, I don't like this.
This is obviously causing me stress.
This experience is not enjoyable for me because of this.
this thing. Yeah, I can't move on from it. I literally can't put my stake in the ground and say,
I'm done talking about it. Maria, we're good. Like, I don't see life the way you see life,
but we're not, this is not going to be over top of me any longer because I have other things
to do here. She never did it. She never put her stake in the ground and moved on. I also would say,
actually, I think her Instagram, I think that's probably why she's receiving so much public
criticism.
The gaslighting video.
Yeah, I think it was another weird choice.
I think it was another odd choice.
It was not, it was using words that are, again, very harmful and very important and very
impactful on people and making it almost like, hey, I'm the victim here.
And I don't think a victim mentality ever works out well.
And I think it was a really weird take.
But I just want to start.
Before we break down, I, the, one of the reasons I love.
co-hosts in this show with you. And one of the reasons that I've enjoyed it for eight years
and we've done it for eight years is because I know the type of friend you are and that you are
the type of friend that will fall on the sword for somebody else as long as that other person
is like protected. I know you do it for me. I would like to hope I'd do it for you, but you've
represented it from the start of this season. And I know there's probably been times if this was
not somebody you've known. There's probably been times you're like, gosh, dang it, this is not good,
and you'd probably be a little bit more pointed in your criticism. But because you knew her,
you stood up for it. And I think that is admirable. And I think it's something to respect and something
to notice. And I can be the one to say the things that are probably not like keeping things,
you know, kosher. They're probably pushing the envelope a little bit because I'm just a fan here. I don't know
Yeah. It's been it's been okay. Like, you know, and I'm trying to help her along as well because like, you know, I know how frustrating of a situation she's in. And I do think that the Instagram was also a mistake. And like we've been talking about like how she can utilize her Instagram right now and whether or not it's a good idea to even be on it because it's kind of hard to win anyone over in the position that she's been put in.
right now. So I just feel like she should probably just stay back a little bit
right now. But I do think that there's a little bit of a possible lie at the end of
the tunnel for her because of what may be unfolding tomorrow and what may have in the
conversation that Leah has. I also don't think that the conversation with Leia Medina in this
episode is great. I was going to say, I don't agree with you at all here. I think it just makes
look worse. But I do think that it alludes that there is more.
two things than we got to see because everyone is saying like there's multiple girls saying
like we were shocked that Sydney left we're disappointed that Sydney left and then we see
Leah be so fiery about Maria and I think that tomorrow we're going to see Jess get quite
upset with Maria if if we're going off the scenes in the next episode.
See I'm going to say it was with
You think it's with Leia? Well, we'll see. Do you know? Are you hinting at something here that you know of? Because here's a truth. And you and I have both been in this position. Even if Sydney has told you how this goes down at this point in time, she no longer knows. She has no idea how it's going to get back. Yeah. So we're all, you know, now we're watching from a fresh start. I think we have a lot to talk about when it comes to breaking down this episode, especially when it comes to breaking down the end of this episode. I just wanted to start out with this.
this way.
But that's very sweet, but also unneeded to compliment that.
Of course, I'm going to stick through her through this.
I've known her side of the story since she got home.
Sure.
Sure.
And I do.
I think I've disagreed through every episode so far, but that's what makes us great.
She's not a liar.
That's the thing.
Like, what I want to get out there and what Sydney really wants out there, that's all she
wants people to know is that she's not a liar.
Now, did she exaggerate things?
That could be one thing.
what's the difference but I don't think oh there's a difference okay um I uh I also just
don't think Sydney deserves to be like it's nuts dumped on here I it is nuts and we've talked
about it before I think comparable to other seasons uh I think the storytelling when it comes to
the Maria Sydney drama lacked because we didn't even really know a lot of the stuff that
they were saying. So it does kind of make Sydney look like a liar. But it also kind of makes
Maria at times look like a liar also because we don't know the background to any of this.
Their conversations with Joey and with each other are hinting at things that we never saw or
experienced. And so we don't know what's actually happening behind the scenes. We're kind of
left in this very confusing cyclone of drama that we don't even really know where it's coming
from other than the fact that the two of these girls
just don't see eye to eye.
To me, everybody out there needs to assume
like they're assuming
that this content doesn't
exist like her saying
shut the fuck up. Maria
is saying that. People are assuming
that that is a total
lie because they didn't see it.
So then I think you just have to step back
and be like, okay,
did it happen or did not happen?
Is she a liar?
Or did they not show it?
And I guess most people just think they, that she's a liar.
Well, I mean, I think there's just been moments here.
And I do think the social media thing didn't help where people are like,
Sydney is making things out of nothing.
And she's piling on with language and she can't move on.
And it's now become a twisted story that she can't get out of.
I think that's the storyline that it's existing for the viewer is it feels like,
liar is a very strong word here.
But it feels like from a viewer's standpoint,
I would say without knowing any backstory. And I bet that is hard for you to do because you did
know the backstory is as I watch it, it does feel like Sydney got mixed up into something.
She said things in the past, like I have to speak up for everybody else in the house.
And everybody else in the house was like, no, you don't. And then she said, hey, Maria's saying
this and this and we don't see it. And it just feels like she can't move on from it. And so I think
the perception from my side is that she just got mixed up into something and she got so far deep
into it, that now she can't get out of it.
So that you think she is making it up.
How would I know any different?
You just have to trust me.
But, but, but, and I think I was getting closer and closer to that until the social
media post came out.
And I was like, this feels like one in the same from what was happening in the season.
And now I have to go back to this just is like this is, I'm not, I can't, I can't say
that she's in the right here.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I think we, what we should do is.
get into the episode. And then when things come up, I will point out certain things that I can
at least say like, okay, so think about this and think about that. Sure. How about that?
I think that's great. But I would also like to note that typically you and I together
can see through these storylines and probably make sense of a lot of the things happening
when episodes occur. I will note this. I don't see through this storyline yet. So,
So I want you to point out stuff, but I also am going to push back as we break down this episode.
And that being said, I just want to reiterate that I'm not like condoning everything she did.
I agree with you.
Don't think she should have gotten caught up in this and then continued the cycle.
However, as somebody who's been part of the franchise and somebody who has maybe a personality,
maybe personality traits more similarly in line with Sydney than you in this aspect,
Like you and Jared, I keep comparing you guys because you're very similar.
Like, if you guys saw drama happening over there, you could firmly stay away.
And I'm not saying I can't stay away if it's not mine.
But if I am involved with it in any way, oh, it's going to get, it's going to be really hard for me to just let it blow over.
We've seen me do this on TV.
I can't let it blow over.
And then, but it's not, it's not, it's not right.
And then I'm not, again, I'm not, I think that there's a little, there perhaps could have been some exaggeration, but I think what she's claiming that Maria said word for word was there. That's all I'm saying. Okay. Let's get into it.
Beautiful place Malta is. What an incredible spot to travel to. Can we just say that? I want to go after watching this episode. Underrated, never heard, I mean, heard of Malta, sure, but it's not like a destination that's,
people are like, oh, yeah, I'm going to my honeymoon in Malta.
But it looks like a honeymoon, like it looks like in Italy, which it's very close.
I like that the show tried to make a joke of this girl not knowing where Malta was.
And the whole time I was looking up on Google, where's Malta?
Like as her little clip goes, it's, I've never been to Europe.
Malta's in Europe, right?
And that's how it moved on.
And I think the show wanted us to be like, oh, how funny they don't know where Malta's at.
And at the same time, I was Googling, where is Malta?
Because I have no idea.
I have no idea where Malta is.
It's a little south of Italy, right?
Yeah, it's really close to Sicily.
It's absolutely gorgeous.
It's a great place for really their first international trip.
I'm glad they went here.
It is one of, in general, as I look at this episode,
I think the dates themselves were some of the coolest dates
that the show has came up with in a long time.
I think they were goofy.
I think they were funny.
But they were enjoyable.
And they gave me.
me a perception of what Malta might be like or what the historical side of Malta is
like. I enjoyed the dates on this episode. Me too. And I enjoyed Malta. But we kick it off.
Obviously, we're going to talk about the Maria and Sydney drama more as their episode goes on.
But the girls end up kind of at the house in L.A. They end up going to Malta. They're staying
at the Intercontinental in Malta. They're all very excited to be there. That,
first trip on the show, like that first time you jump in a plane together and you go through
an airport together is one of the coolest experiences because you want one, you're back out
in the world again for the first time in probably three weeks. You haven't seen like civilization
for three weeks really. And now you're walking through an airport. People are noticing you because
you're a group of, in this case, you know, 20-some beautiful women walking through an airport.
cheerleading dance team
they tell us to say
yeah we were the rugby team
actually okay yeah
cool yeah we were a rugby team
and then they would look at me and be like
that six foot four skinny dudes
is in rugby like
heck yeah
my boyfriend's professor is way too friendly
and now I'm seriously suspicious
oh wait a minute Sam maybe her boyfriend's just
looking for extra credit well Dakota
it's back to school week on the okay story
podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his
young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting
we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now hold up, isn't that against school
policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's
former professor and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists
there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this
person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So,
Do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not?
To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
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The first date is Lexi and Joey. Now, you've had high hopes for Lexi since the first episode of this season.
You have been curious and excited about maybe what she brings to the table. So I had to imagine you were
very excited when you found out she was going to get the first one-on-one in Malta.
Well, I really just want to look at her.
Like, I just find her to be so beautiful.
Really?
Oh, my God.
She's stunning.
Like the most stunning on this season?
She's like a supermodel.
In my opinion, yes, she's the one I want to trade faces with.
What a way to say that.
That's great.
I think that that's the best way for me to put things like this.
Okay.
So I actually didn't really feel a ton of chemistry up their date.
I would agree with you.
That was going to beat my follow up.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I felt like it was a very.
it was a good date
it was definitely not a date
that makes me say
these two are meant to be together
there was not magic
no I'm sure they had a nice day
the church thing was cute
and them walking around was nice
but I didn't feel anything like super dynamic
and then she talked to him
about her endometriosis stage five
it's like really serious
she must have been really suffering
before that surgery
and that's like
that his response
fantastic you know the fact that he even like I it's that's a hard position to be put into like I may
not be able to have children like how does this affect your my potential going forward right like
that's just heavy and her having to have that that situation with her ex where he
ultimately decided not to be with her anymore because of that well that's that's
just like, you know, that is something that is like got to be just way on you when you go
into a dating environment.
So yeah, I think they had a very connecting date in that sense of like they shared deep stuff.
But I don't think that like this is going.
And I think that's why she was so emotional.
Yeah.
And she was saying things like, I can like imagine Joey with me and la la la, la.
But I think it was just because she let that out and he had a wonderful response to it.
well i i feel for her because there's so much i'm sure kind of mixed into knowing this and
then trying to communicate it especially to somebody on the bachelor uh i'm sure this is i mean
she hinted at it's something that is really hard for her it did it was a very um heavy moment
And I think Joey's going to respond really well
because I just think he's a good dude.
But he's like so good.
Yeah.
I mean,
I think he's just going to,
I think right now he's in it to find his partner.
And if his partner just, you know,
we're to say,
hey,
I love you and you love me.
Let's do this life together.
But here's something that you need to know about me.
I'm guessing Joey is the type of dude
that would be like,
we're going to do it together with him.
Like I,
Yeah, it's not ideal for you, but it's not ideal for anything.
And so we're going to figure this out.
You know, there's other options here or there's things we can do.
That's just who he is.
He's in it to find his partner.
Even though I know family is one of those main conversations, having kids is one of those
main conversations you would have.
Take away from the moment where it did feel very heavy and personal and intimate,
very vulnerable moment.
and she did an incredible job walking through it.
I just don't feel it between them.
Every other part of the date felt like at this point in the season,
we should be getting the butterflies and the kind of,
I'm all over you.
I can't stop looking at you.
It just didn't feel it here.
It just felt like something was distant.
Yeah, totally.
And I do want to just say that I think that with Lexi,
like down the road if it's not Joey it's going to be some man the right man is going to want to be
with you regardless and you guys will figure out the family situation no question no question when you
fall in love and you make that commitment to your partner there's a thousand things that you're
making a commitment to and walking beside them in life is definitely one of those and somebody's
going to look at her and get to know her and be like we're going to walk this life together and we're
going to carry each other's pains and we're going to love and celebrate each other when that's
necessary. But really, I mean, a very, like, hard moment, I'm sure for her, one that she probably
was waiting to discuss and then probably felt good to get out there, but still doesn't take it
away, right? That's the hard part here is I'm sure she's still holding on to this. And that's
tough. So, but she got the rose. So she's still here. And as she's on this date, we do get a date
card that lists everybody going on a group date other than Sydney and Maria. Not a shocker here.
It's a two-on-one. It sets up for a two-on-one. It's been setting up for a two-on-one for four weeks now.
And so they're going on a two-on-one. The rest are going into a group date. And again, I just want to say
this group date was one of my favorite group dates I can remember mostly because of, I forget who
said it. One of the girls said at the very beginning of the day.
day they're like they can try to give us goofy like outfits give us all the goofy outfits you want
but we'll still rock them they looked amazing I know I was like these girls look so good
those outfits were really dope yes um loved them and like I like the fact that this was like
a kind of a physical challenge but like a really funny physical challenge and it was they had
different you know facets to it there was the whole looking at each other in the eyes which
the girls who ended up kissing him,
I'm like, no, just look him in the eyes.
I mean, I've always said this.
You know, one of the things that I never wanted
was to kiss anybody else
in front of somebody else during the season.
And I definitely didn't want somebody
to try to kiss me in front of somebody else.
So, like, that was kind of an unspoken, like, boundary.
It just isn't necessary in it, and it's odd.
So just follow the rules here.
However, this whole date was kind of about breaking the rules
because then they go on to play some other games.
and then they have this sausage challenge.
And I want to know at what executive producer meeting
are they sitting in this room and they're like,
okay, we're going to get all these girls in Malta,
we're going to give them the outfits,
we're going to play some games.
I got the game they're going to play.
Like, we're going to take sausages.
We're going to spend them really fast
and we're just going to make them smack each other in the face.
And they're going to smell bad.
They're going to be full of cheese and grease.
And it's going to be a really uncomfortable experience.
But these girls are just going to get smack with sausages
and it's going to be great TV.
because honestly I didn't think it was great TV and it did make me at home feel like sick to my
stomach.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Being pregnant and watching that, I was like, ugh, I do not want to think about sausages right now
and just the fact that they were like not grilled.
So gross.
Yeah, it was pretty gross.
But it was funny.
And I was just thinking about everybody's like spit kind of on them.
Sweat and spit and the dirt from the air and just like.
I mean, it was a really terrible thing to watch.
It was really bad TV, honestly.
It was not enjoyable.
You thought it was bad TV.
I thought it was bad TV.
But you just said you liked this date.
I liked the date other than this part.
Like I thought...
But then all we really saw was the Looking in the Eyes challenge.
No, we saw him trying to steal like handbags off of each other.
Okay.
And I thought that was cool.
And I honestly like the nights that were there.
Like the one dude's like, today we're going to do some like cool stuff.
Yeah, that guy was awesome.
I love it.
I also really liked autumn during this day.
I know she ends up winning the day.
And I was kind of excited because I felt like it could have been her coming out party on the show.
But then she went time with Joey.
And it was the like you could tell.
What was that?
You can tell she's not going to make it very far because it kind of comes and goes so fast.
It's like, I get to spend time with Joey.
We walk out here.
It's so beautiful.
All right.
Commercial break.
It was so weird.
It reminded me of when Ken doll dude was with, well, cut that out.
I don't even remember this moment.
It's fine.
Yeah, it was just like so telling that she doesn't have much of a future with Joey.
But I wanted to hear them talk a little bit.
I mean, because her energy is really good.
Her personality is funny.
She obviously was like in it to win it.
And I was hoping this was the moment.
we would say okay autumn you've snuck in tomorrow top three but in fact i think she really
probably exists now towards the bottom because the show gave no time to their you know time away
with each other it didn't show any of the conversation it really just kind of showed them walking off so
based on that i can assume autumn is not somebody that will be around a long time even though i
did respect her grit and determination taking those sausages straight to the face
when many weren't.
I love Jess here.
Actually, you know, the first week,
I was like, I feel like Jess has,
is going to get too much confidence
and it's going to be kind of her downfall.
We haven't really seen that yet.
I was wrong on that.
But then this date really made me go,
I like Jess,
like her just stepping back from the whole thing,
her reaction to seeing a sausage again,
her commentary.
The two was just like, no, not doing it.
And I was afraid that Joey was going to be like,
I would have preferred if Jess had really gotten into it,
but that wasn't a thing.
No, he's like, I get it.
Like, in fact, it's pretty gross to see any of these people doing this.
I'd rather all of them just step back and be like, not for me.
So that group day ends up with a cocktail party at night.
Kelsey T. shines bright during this cocktail party.
Again, Daisy's kind of the definitely in it.
She should be at the top of our list.
So we get to see Kelsey T, though, really shine.
She, I think this out of anybody, when I say like you're coming out experience,
this was hers after this episode, she definitely skyrocketed it on my, you know,
into my top three or four based on this.
Yeah, like he seems more into her than he is in Lexi.
I would, that's a great take.
I would 100% agree with that.
Yeah.
And it makes sense, right?
I mean, she's captivating.
She's funny.
She's curious and inquisitive.
And so their conversations are very back and forth.
I think Kelsey T for me, we'll kind of wait maybe until after tomorrow's episode.
Yeah.
Let's do that.
I don't want to rank people yet.
Yeah.
But she's definitely, like, gone way up in my power rankings.
Yeah, I totally agree.
And yeah, she gets the rose.
Just does say that she's falling for him.
and that's intense.
Yeah, it felt a little early.
Like, I might avoid it a few weeks.
There's always the one person who goes a little too early.
But maybe that's when I was feeling like her confidence was going to get kind of in the way of her experience.
And maybe we're just seeing that's how she verbalizes kind of feeling uncomfortable and being like,
I started out this thing and I thought he was it.
And I thought this thing was over on night one.
And we really haven't had any time together.
We haven't talked in two weeks.
and I haven't really seen him
and he hasn't been paying much attention to me
and so I'm throwing the Hail Mary
and we've talked about Here Mary's on this season
or on this show before
I felt like this was almost a Hail Mary for her
it wasn't an incomplete pass
turnover on downs it feels more like
incomplete pass
it's still you know now it's fourth and ten
she's got a lot of room to make up
okay
it's a risk
all right
well now it's time for the two on one
before we start that
I do want to say there was one part
where in the beginning where Maria
does sort of admit
that she has said things
about Sydney
called her names like the one thing
is in like the first couple scenes of the episode
she goes have I said she's going to look dumb
yes
you know what I mean so those are like
kind of references to the fact that
Sydney she has
called Sydney like names
I don't think at any point
I have ever not believed that there has not been conflict between the two of them
and there has not been conversations that are probably a little ugly
or very ugly between the two of them.
I just still feel like it's being,
there's words being thrown around like bully and abusive that I feel like,
we're like, no, she just said you're going to look dumb if you continue to harp on this
or however, whatever context it was in.
And that's not really being a bully.
That's just her saying how she feels like you're going to look.
So not convincing yet.
Keep trying.
I'm not convinced yet.
Yeah.
Okay.
Well, I guess what about tone?
What if somebody was like, you're dumb?
Again, it matters the context that we don't have and we don't see.
And so if you and I were sitting together and you're like,
that you're dumb. I'd be, well, I'd be like, oh, she's just kidding. Like, that's just a response.
However, if you and I were in a conversation that was heated and I was like, Ashley, I'm going to
go tell Jared that you pick your nose whenever he's not around and you respond with me,
well, that's cool, but you're going to look dumb because he already knows it. I'd be like,
that's fine too. I am not the lawyer here. Are you having a good lawyer, Brian? That's why I'm not
convinced. I do think they were things said. I don't think they were meant as harshly as Sydney
took them. And here's the cool part. Here's a compliment to Sydney. Maybe she's just so sensitive
and she's such a sweet soul that anybody being mean to her just affects her so deeply and she doesn't
know how to respond. Maybe that's what we're getting out of this. I don't know. I still just think
she handled this thing awfully. Like she should, like as her coach going into the show, Ashley, I don't
what you're doing. I told her not to do this. I told her not to get involved in any of the drama.
Oh, my goodness. I don't know where you were at, but something was missing here.
My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious.
Well, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast. So we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with a
young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's
insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now hold up, isn't that
against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person,
this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age.
And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them.
I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because
he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated
with his professor or not? To hear the explosion.
The exclusive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here.
And we're locked in.
That means more juicy chisement.
Terrible love advice.
Evil spells to cast on your ex.
No, no, no, we're not doing that this season.
Oh.
Well, this season, we're leveling up.
Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it.
Get in here.
Today we have a very special guest with us.
our new super secret bestie is the diva of the people.
The diva of the people.
I'm just like text your ex.
My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot,
go and touch it.
Go and figure it out for yourself.
Okay.
That's us.
That's us.
My name is Curley.
And I'm Maya.
In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship,
heartbreak, men, and of course, our favorite secrets.
Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Michael
Podcast Network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your
podcast.
What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison
or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth?
Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.
He said, you are a number, a New York State number, and we own you.
Shock incarceration, also known as boot camps, are short-term, highly-relibered.
regimented correctional programs that mimic military basic training.
These programs aim to provide a shock of prison life,
emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs.
Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six
months.
The first night was so overwhelming and you don't know who's next to you.
And we didn't know what to expect in the morning.
Nobody tells you anything.
Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hi, I'm Janica Lopez, and in the new season of the Overcover podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection.
Am I ready to enter this new part of my life?
Like, am I ready to be in a relationship?
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So back at the hotel, obviously, we get now the validation that we knew was going to happen.
Sydney and Maria are going on a two-on-one.
Two-on-ones are always interesting.
I do think they shake up the show.
Ashley, you're an expert at the two-on-one experience.
The Bachelor loves the two-on-one.
Do you love how awkward the Bachelor gets?
Yes, it's...
I've been on a two-on-one as the Bachelor.
It is awful.
You don't enjoy any second of it.
No.
But this one, I mean, during my season,
we did go on a boat as well,
but this one, they stuck them on the tiniest boat possible,
like, to where their knees were all touching.
Oh, that was...
Yeah, that was great.
But you can handle that.
I mean, you just don't talk to them.
You're like, hey, there's no secret.
that you and I don't like each other.
There's no secret why we're going on this.
We don't have to talk.
We can just sit here in silence.
It's when the three of them are together,
that it's so amazing to me.
And this is good television.
I was in a helicopter with crystals and Kelsey.
So that was funny.
Tell me, Ashley,
what it's like kind of leading up.
So what do you think was going through
these girls' heads as they were on the boat?
Maybe they're in the car going to this two-on-one together.
I think both guys.
Girls usually think that, like, they got it.
Like, there's no way that he's ever going to side with the other girl.
There's just no way.
But.
So you're feeling, like, kind of confident.
If not, like, maybe a little cocky.
Sure.
Okay.
That's fair.
But at the same time, you know how I see a two-on-one?
You might as well go home right now anyways.
Because have we ever known anybody that's gone on a two-on-one that's made it very much farther?
Very much farther.
Very much farther.
Much farther.
We have to get Bachelor data to let us know this.
Like how far?
Maybe one or two.
Like, okay, we can probably assume there's been one or two experiences.
Wasn't Ashley Rosen, what was Ashley?
Euber, wasn't she on a two-on-one?
Oh, Ashley.
I think she was.
I think she was the Ashley and Ashley best friends and she got to third and became the
Bachelorette.
So that might be the one.
But okay, but they're best friends.
So a different two-on-one.
Yeah, that was like the spin on it was that they put two best friends together.
It'd be like sending two sisters on a two-on-one then.
Like it's different context.
If you're in the drama, it's not good for you.
And so you might as well just go home anyways.
This two-on-one was unique in the aspect that it's not a surprise.
Maria was trying to make it feel as normal as possible.
And Sydney just couldn't function.
She was, yeah.
She could not function there.
they're no she should have just gone home maria's a better like she's much better at acting
yeah i also maybe that i also just think maria probably uh this was affecting her a lot less
than it was affecting sydney i don't i i really think if sidney just stopped this never gets
brought back up again because i don't think maria cared that much what sydney thinks
well i also think that just maria has such more of a natural chemistry with joey that it's easier to be on a date with somebody when like first and foremost we connect secondly i have drama with this girl whereas like i think sidney probably knew in her bones she just wasn't and like there's this there's like a line where she's like i'm totally the one for joey i don't think she felt that at that point she said it so i mean
She said it at some point.
She said it at some point.
I would say that Sydney at this point should have seen the writing on the wall.
Because outside of everything else, she has never had a conversation with Joey that we've seen.
And we've seen a lot of her conversations that did not exist about, that did not kind of circle around somebody else.
If it was Medina in the age.
We didn't see anything.
We hadn't seen anything.
We saw them sitting on the front steps together.
during a pool party.
Yeah, they were talking about
Exactly.
So any of their conversations...
That's what I'm saying.
I'm saying like we didn't see anything beyond
her talking about Maria.
Which builds up the character
for you guys to just have no attachment
to this girl at all besides not liking her.
Yeah, but how many conversations
at this point could they have actually had?
Probably like four.
Yeah, four.
And all pretty quick.
Like 10 minutes.
yeah so there couldn't have been a lot else like we saw the one so maybe there's three others
sitting out there uh that we didn't see but outside of everything else maria definitely had
the strong connection she had definitely used her time to make memories make memories with joey
yeah Sydney at this point you know is sitting there probably on this date feeling like the
third wheel and i feel for her in this moment because outside of everything else it's never good
to feel alone.
And I definitely felt like she,
uh,
she felt like the kid looking through the window at the party,
she wasn't invited to.
And she definitely did,
probably did not feel like she belonged on this date or in that boat
with Joey,
who should be like kind of her rock right now
where she's like,
at least I'm with Joey.
I don't think, I think Maria was just,
and it didn't even said it.
I mean, she said like, I'm going on this date to get rid of,
of her. Like, her focus was not on, hey, I'm going on this date to get some good experience
with Joey. It's, I'm going on this date to still focus on Maria. And it goes to my theory,
she got put into a situation. She didn't know how to get out of it. And she refused to get
out of it. I think it's a, I think it's a big reflection as to the fact that she and Joey
probably weren't a match. And she wasn't really fighting for that anymore. She was fighting for
the truth to be told about her truth
to be told about Maria.
I'm very proud of you.
You have found a way to
work through this situation
and this will be one of the last weeks
we're talking about...
I'm so excited.
I agree. It's got to be exhausting
because you have looked for the good
and all of this. You have stood up for her
in a way that most people wouldn't
and I'm very thankful that, again, I get to do this with you because I know that's who you are.
I just, however, think if it wasn't somebody you knew, you'd be like, this girl needs to go
and it wasn't good.
And this experience was one of top five, like, hardest characters of The Bachelor to watch
because every week, the last three weeks, has kind of been a spiral to this point.
so let me say that it's i almost wish well i don't i don't wish but i find it interesting i suppose
if i were able to watch these episodes through the lens of not knowing sidney because me
knowing sydney it's i and knowing her side of the story and everything makes it just me
to me be like oh it's not that bad oh it's not that bad oh it's not that bad
And I read these comments and I hear these messages left on the voicemail at her store.
And I'm just like, I can't believe that people say these things.
I can't believe the online bullying.
But just like in general, I can't believe that people regard her as one of like the least like bachelor contestants from like recent memory.
And that she's like such a villain.
I just cannot see it that way
and then I also
I just wish that you guys
could see the person that I know
and like this
serious self-righteous
absolutely not self-aware
and not humorous
whatsoever person that they've been showing you
is just not who I know
at all.
Yeah.
Well, here, you know, we've always said it.
We say it every week, really.
It's hard to not like somebody once you get to know somebody.
I have zero doubt in my mind when Sydney comes on to the show that I'm going to be like,
yeah, that was a raw deal for you.
You know, you had the Olivia Cariti edit, and that's tough because I know Olivia and
she's incredible.
And I think their storylines in some way are similar, where they got.
mixed up into something they aren't familiar with. And this show chewed them up and spit them out
and it wasn't a reflection of who they are as people. So I've zero doubt about that. I've never
doubted for a second that that is the case here. But I will also say, and I don't think we're ever
going to stop it. I don't know, you know, you're never going to talk somebody into it. But the fact that
people then are like actually mean and harmful and trying to hurt somebody outside of this
experience in the show is wild to me because the Bachelor at its best is a place where we get
to watch people try their hardest in this super uncomfortable, super weird environment
that nobody's used to. And we get to sit at home on our couches and be like,
that's ridiculous. I can't believe you said that. That is hilarious.
I'm glad you're doing that and not me.
You are making no sense to me.
But the fact that that would ever transition over to the real world and make people go,
I'm going to take time out of my day to try to hurt somebody else or hurt this person
or make sure they know that they suck is one, not appropriate, two, something I can't
comprehend.
And three, honestly, if that's, if that's you,
if you have those thoughts where you're like,
I hate this person so much
that I'm going to make sure they know
that I'm going to make sure
to try to make their life even worse.
I want you to try to get some help.
Get some help because I'll tell you this.
There's a lot more joy in the world
when you aren't focused on trying to make other people
hurt worse, but try to make people feel a little bit better.
And so maybe try that technique.
Like when you start to feel all this hate,
and hurt and pain and anger towards this character
that's, again, trying their hardest
in this weird environment,
maybe taking a breath and switching to,
okay, I'm assuming she's probably not feeling
great about herself in general.
I can critique and I can talk about
and I can ask questions about,
but maybe I could share a little, like, love with her.
Like, maybe I could just be like, hey, you know what?
Yeah, do I think you did great?
If she was on this podcast now, I'd say,
I think you, this was a, you walked this show in a horrifically terrible way.
But it's not a reflection of like me disliking you.
It's not at all.
It's just, I don't, I think there was better ways you could have gone about this whole thing.
Mm-hmm.
Can I share with you a quote from one of these voicemails that was left on her work phone?
And I know that Jared mentioned it because he like wanted to air it and one of our producers goes,
I don't know about the legality of us airing voicemails.
I don't know.
I think it would be okay if we believed out the name.
One thing I notice is that a lot of the haters on Instagram and all the people that left a voicemail, they're all older.
Like they're all like 50s and up.
And I just find that to be a weird trend.
But a lot of the haters on, okay, so I just leave that out there.
It's just kind of strange.
You think that they would know better.
You'd think that they'd have more important things to do.
You'd think they didn't have children and like more sympathy and all that.
Pain reflects pain.
And so I think that's one also is Sydney has the ability now to speak into people that are hurting because they're the ones reaching out to her.
Not, you know, somebody that isn't hurting in life doesn't go out of their way to hurt somebody else.
That's just not how life works.
It's not how, like, the human instincts work.
And so people calling upon her and saying these things are probably experiencing some sort of pain themselves.
The other side of this that Sydney could probably get some confidence in is these people will not be remembering Sydney's storyline six months from now.
Right.
Like, it's gone.
Thank you for being wise, Ben.
What was the quote, though?
You said you're going to say a quote.
You can say it.
I know you can say, I can't hear the voicemail.
can say the quote. So this woman was like, hi, I'm so-and-so. I'm 50-something years old from like
whatever she stated her state. And then she goes, I, she went blah, blah, blah, blah,
you are a skanky bitch, the worst person I could ever imagine. La, la, la, la, la, all these insults.
And then says this, you're the kind of woman who once you get married and once you get married and
one day you'll eventually divorce this man and you will divorce him and claim that he has abused
the children molested the children that's the kind of person you are goodness gracious well
i know there's a callus that sydney will build up too where she hears this stuff and she's like
that's just craziness right like that just i know i said like it's just like you could you need to laugh at that
person. Yeah, well, and you also just need to know that those people calling her are not,
they're hurting in life. And this show is very important to them. And they are feeling like their
value comes from that one voice mode that they get to leave. And for that, it's not the type of
life I want to live. It's the type of life some choose to live or they get thrown into. But
Sydney now has a touch on a lot of people that are hurting because they're the ones reaching out.
I, it's just not fair to her to have this be such an impactful thing in her life.
Again, as her coach, I would say stay off of social media.
Don't post any videos that are, that youth, that she believes are going to, like,
revolutionize the way people think of her because, quite honestly,
her story is now come and gone and people will move on.
And by the end of the season, this won't be a topic that we even talk about.
It will be gone.
And, you know what?
I hope one day she can find redemption.
on another show where we can see the real or the better side of her
where maybe she does learn her lesson to not get involved in drama.
I still think that's a great lesson for her to learn here.
Stay out of it.
She doesn't need to be the voice of truth for everybody
or doesn't even need to be the one that says,
hey, I'm going to pick out the villain and try to get her kicked out
if that's what she was thinking Maria was.
I stand by the fact that I think she could have done better here 100%.
As do I.
Yeah.
My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious.
Oh, wait a minute, Sam.
Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit.
Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.
This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot.
He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her.
Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.
Now, hold up.
Isn't that against school policy?
That sounds totally inappropriate.
Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age.
And it's even more likely that they're cheating.
He insists there's nothing between them.
I mean, do you believe him?
Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet.
So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not?
To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condescending finance, bro, tell you how to manage your money again.
Welcome to Brown ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem a year from now.
When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online.
online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable.
Listen, I am not here to judge.
It is so expensive in these streets.
I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt when it weighs
on you.
It's really easy to just like stick your head in the sand.
It's nice and dark in the sand.
Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it.
And in fact, it may get even worse.
For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison
or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth?
Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.
He said, you are a number, a New York State number, and we own you.
Shock incarceration, also known as boot camps, are short-term, highly regimented correctional programs
that mimic military basic training.
These programs aimed to provide a shock of prison life,
emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs.
Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six months.
The first night was so overwhelming, and you don't know who's next to you.
And we didn't know what to expect in the morning.
Nobody tells you anything.
Listen to shock incarceration on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get to.
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We see this two-on-one.
It doesn't go any other direction other than the fact that Maria stays and Sydney goes home.
Everything else is kind of business as usual.
Sydney is kind of stuck here and again, this just really bad time of trying to get Maria gone.
And Joey has too much of a relationship with Maria.
to really say goodbye to her yet
or even in this instance.
And they had the opera singer
waiting to sing Avae Maria.
Well, I think the show probably knew
what was going to happen.
They knew.
They certainly knew.
I think at this point, Joey went into this date
knowing what was going to happen.
I don't think anything was changing his mind.
You do have a sense, I will say,
of how this stuff's going to play out,
especially before you go on the date.
I'm sensing that Joey probably knew that Sydney was not in a good place on this show,
and there was no getting her out of this, and it was just best if Maria stayed.
And Sydney went home, and it's good for Sydney that she went home, honestly.
I'm happy that we don't talk about it again.
However, it doesn't end us talking about Maria and other girls in the house, specifically Leah,
being very upset with her
so we see this cocktail party
at the end of the episode
the cocktail party is short
because it is a two-part episode
Medina is very nice
to Maria
kind of says hey I'm happy you're here
you look beautiful
and
Leah takes offense to this
pulls Medina aside
and pretty
and I
think this is where you and I might have to
disagree because I think Leah, just from hearing the stuff she was saying to Medina, I don't know
if Leah is that much different than Sydney in this experience. I think they're kind of our two
people in the same camp because Leah says things to Medina that are incredibly hurtful. Like,
hey, I just, I guess I have higher standards. I know. The higher standards for my friends thing.
Like, I know. And I have higher values. Pretty much what I wanted Medina to say back to her is
I want to her to question her on that a little bit.
Like, what do you mean by that?
So you are righteous.
Like, you are self-righteous.
You believe you know what's best.
And as, you know, famous philosophers once said,
the lack of humility.
I won't go into the whole quote because I don't even know the whole quote.
But pretty much what it says is like lacking humility
and lacking any type of ability to self-reflect
will ultimately be the diminisher to any relationships.
And Leah here in her,
her conversation with Medina, definitely put her Medina in a corner. And I liked how Medina
explained it. She said, hey, I'm just trying to be nice to her. Like, why would we continue
to spark this drama flame that doesn't need to exist any longer? I'm happy that she's here.
And I'm going to do this experience how I want to do this experience. And you have no right to
judge me on how I'm doing this experience. Yeah. The only point that I try to like use this
moment, not the actual conversation, but like the whole like cocktail party to help defend
Sydney is that like, I think it's obvious at this point that there are a few other girls that
have issues with Maria and it wasn't just her on her solo ship against her. So I think that
there was other things going on that were ruffling the feathers of a lot of people instead of
it just being like Sydney. But I do think Sydney took the mistake of being the spoken.
person for everyone. But that's where I'm confused, because originally we would have thought
Medina was the one that was upset with Maria because that's where this whole thing started
from, really. And now Medina is able to move on and be cordial and kind. Really, unless I'm
confused here, Leah is the only one that's really now speaking out. And she's only really been the one
to speak out on Sydney's side since the beginning, and even in Leah's conversation with other,
she's like, I was very soft, you know, about how I explained it. No, you weren't. Like, you pretty much
just told somebody they have no standards. Yeah, she did say that she was soft. And that was like,
you were really mean, actually. You were, this was like a really hard conversation for you to have
somebody. Like, if somebody were to come up to me and say, you know what, I guess I just hold
myself to a higher standard than you do. I know. What? Like, what, I mean, that's a really,
mean thing to say to somebody. So I feel like this has not convinced me that there's others.
It feels like, and we're going to hopefully see it in this next episode, but we're going to see
how this all plays out. Maybe I'm completely wrong. And yes, Maria is the flame that sparks
controversy amongst this house. And we see the other women coming out and being like, yeah,
you know what? I'm sick and tired of this. And then I'd have to take all this back. But at this point
in time where I sit right now, this conversation with Leia Medina, if only thing, just
testified in my mind that Maria's gotten under some people's skin, but only the people
who she could get under the skin of. Everybody else is like, I'm cool with it. Like she, yeah,
she's boisterous and she is outspoken and she says things that yes, could come off wild and
maybe a little bit like intrusive, but she doesn't mean anything by because that's just who she
is. I did not think this was a validating conversation for Lay and Medina. I, I, I, I,
I thought the stuff that was said to Medina was unfair.
It was incredibly critical.
And it was that like, let me smile and put a nice, like, face on and tell you, hey, like,
I'm just better than you.
No, I know.
I completely agree.
The first time I watched it, um, a couple days ago and I skimmed through it.
And I was like, oh, well, this will be good for Sydney.
And then I really paid attention to the conversation.
And I was like, oh, no, that's not good either.
but I do want but I do think that Medina and then Caitlin they did reference the fact that like everybody was kind of sad to see Sydney love so I just want to let you guys know that she like obviously had friends in the house I have no doubt that she has friends like people like did not think that she was this horrible person I honestly I don't think anybody in this house thinks Maria's horrible or Sydney and that's why this thing was so frustrating to me because it in my eyes watching it it's like this is a this is something that doesn't need to be existing
because there could be peace in this house.
Because I think everybody's getting along just fine.
And Sydney, you don't have to fall on this sword
because I don't think it's a sword you need to fall on.
I don't know if it's actually existing.
Yeah.
That was been the argument the whole time.
You're making something that doesn't need to be happening.
Happen.
And yeah, she had friends in the house.
I'm sure she did.
I don't think everybody hated Sydney.
I don't think everybody hates Maria.
Yeah.
Well, we'll see tomorrow if there's anything that grows from this.
And if there isn't, then like,
I'm so happy to leave it all in the dust.
Honestly, it would make a lot more sense if we got more explanation for the storyline that has existed for the last four weeks.
It is good to leave it behind us.
It is not worth hating on Sydney for because obviously, as we just mentioned, she had friends in the house.
She was liked in the house.
I think we could probably just take this one small example.
And it does feel like it started from a Medina conversation that Sydney felt like she needed to protect Medina from.
and now Bidina's good and they're all moving forward.
And it just spiraled into a place where she could not get out of it or she could not find
the right mindset to get out of it.
And it ultimately led to her going home.
And that's probably where we could leave it.
There needs to be no other criticisms other than this just got really unfortunate, really fast.
And Sydney's storyline was not a good one.
Let me also just bring up one more thing, though.
the comment of like
of Maria
saying shut the fuck up to Leah
was brought up
and what would
I would feel like those are
those are kind of like fighting words
if somebody in the Bachelor Mansion said
shut the fuck up to me
I'd be like no no I hate you
now I hate you
I might say to Leah after she tells me
that her standards are better than mine
it's a good time back
I could see myself being like
all right
these are okay we can we can
play this game. We're going to get more, we'll get more explanation this next episode. I right now
did not love the Medina and Leia conversation. I did not think it was a healthy, good one. And I felt
like it was, to use a word, it was manipulated afterwards to be like, I was kind and sweet. And
I just had to say something to her. And it just felt, it felt like it could easily become the thing
that gets twisted now in this next episode where people again, audience members are going,
how did this happen?
Like, how did we get so far off track here?
I think part of it could just be the fact
that Medina's probably really hurt
by the thing said,
and she just chose not to confront them there,
but she might confront them later.
But we'll see.
I don't know.
I just don't think you can lean on Ashley,
this lay a conversation being a good thing for Sydney.
I don't think it proves that at all.
Okay. Well, there you go.
All right. Well, let's move on to, well, we don't have anything else to move on to.
I mean, we don't. I was going to say, let's move on to headlines.
But guess what, guys, we do that another episode.
So we'll see you there. And until that, I've been Ashley.
And I've been Ben. We'll talk to you soon.
Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
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