The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Taylor Frankie Paul’s Mother’s Day, A Mormon Wife Civil War and What’s Missing From ABC’s Summer Lineup!

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

Ben has an update on Taylor Frankie Paul and things are getting heated! We have the latest on her court ordered visitation allowance with her child, and Ben breaks down Taylor’s unfiltered Instagram post which takes aim at her SLOMW cast mate. Plus, we discuss what is on ABC’s summer line up, and what’s missing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman.

Multi-million dollar house, Ferrari's and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion-dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud

on the A-Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world.

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That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their Between Songs, banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcast with IHartRadio. Welcome back to the Almost Famous podcast. There have been a few things floating around the Taylor, Frankie, Paul, Ethoverse. So we wanted to bring you the latest news.

right here on the Almost Famous Podcast. If you're looking for a whole list of headlines, you can go back and listen to the headlines episode of this week. If you want Taylor Frankie Paul news, some of our assumptions, some of the things we're hearing, some of the things we think will happen, then stay tuned to this one right here. We're going to start with this, Heather.

Taylor Frankie Paul, protective order allows for 12 hours on Mother's Day, which was we just had. as a visit with her son. She gets 12 hours on Mother's Day. Yeah. Now, obviously anybody who's been following these court hearings that we've also been covering here on the podcast with our legal expert was that Taylor had custody, full-time custody of her youngest son ever removed from her due to the protective order that was put in

place. And for like the last month, three, four weeks, she has had only up to eight hours a week of supervised visitation with her son. So her getting this note that she is allowed a 12-hour session with her son on Mother's Day is a definite move in what looks to be the right direction. and more visitation, we do know that in this last court hearing that was two weeks ago now, or a week and a half ago, was that the judge would be giving another update and recommendation when it came to visitation before their next hearing, which is on June 1st. So it looks like this might be a partial of what we're going to come to see, which is her either getting more visitation or at least her hours a week going up is what it seems like.

Am I confused or wrong when I said her hours are already going up from 8 to 12? No, that's this. This is what we're talking about. Like right here. It's now. Oh, I thought she just got 12 hours only on Mother's Day. Yeah, no, you're right. As far as we know, it's only for this Mother's Day that she was granted a few extra hours. of visitation monitored, of course. It's like a gift on Mother's Day.

That makes sense. Yeah. But it's also a positive move, you know, forward, it looks like. Yeah, this wouldn't be happening if things weren't going in the right direction. Exactly. Taylor Frankie Paul shares a very pointed Mother's Day post amid legal battles with X Dakota. That's the headline. I had a lot of questions about this, Heather.

You helped kind of fill the gaps. it was very pointed. It was very, it very much felt like a caption to me that would have been like a very direct text to somebody you're very angry at. Or even a compelling journal entry. But it was, yeah, it was pointed.

So Heather, who is allegedly speaking about and what does it actually say? Yeah, so obviously it's a pretty lengthy post that she put out there. but she is feeling, quote, a lack of empathy. And this is just over a week now that since this last court hearing, she says, it's Mother's Day. So I'll say whatever I want.

When you start like that, you know, it's going to go into something. And I think a lot of us were thinking it's going to be a big post about being a mom, reflecting, having three kids. No. It goes, as if it's not already the worst time, I see. still have friends, quotes, kicking me while I'm already down and calling it, setting a boundary, quote, and then blaming me for being upset and responding. What a snake friend just did to me in the public eye after everything she has witnessed. The lack of empathy and silence was loud enough,

she continued, seemingly referring to secret lives of Mormon wives cast member, Michaela Matthews, who recently, if anybody's following, has moved her entire family to Hawaii. She is going through still gigantic flare-ups with her skin. Like, this woman is not, I think, sitting around, like, just in layman's terms, I don't think that this woman is sitting around wondering what's going on with Taylor. I really think that this woman is in the process of like starting a new life because she's literally uprooted her entire family from Utah and has moved them to Hawaii. So it says after leveling different allegations and claims surrounding the drama regarding

her relationship with Michaela and her family, Taylor circled back to her Mother's Day messaging, sending well wishes to all the moms out there. And she goes, of course, I'm spiked. spiraling. People calling me out yet I can't respond. Exactly what I will not be tolerating ever again, she concluded. Thank you, God, for the people who sent me help through this with my enemies so close. And then in a story, she was like, teary-eyed Taylor, and she wrote, I will not be sitting down, staying silent or logging off, because that is what a lot of the comments were telling her to do yesterday.

She says, I did that for years on this. Trust me, I can take a beating, whether it's physical, emotional, or public scrutiny. Anyone else want to speak up? Please do. So whatever is happening between her and Michaela, clearly she's expressing that she is not feeling supported in the public eye by her. Her co-star Jesse was quick to get into the comments and tell her how much she loves her. Jesse, you're maybe the biggest flip-flopper on planet Earth.

You were literally in recordings that were sent to her baby daddy that he like sent to TMZ last week. This is where everything gets confusing for me. Exactly. It feels like everybody goes back and forth at the time. So give me clarity. Did Michaela, has Michaela said something publicly that led to this? I believe Michaela was not making public statements. because she was setting a boundary

and not to get too much into the weeds. But Michaela is very vocal about being a victim as a child of abuse, sexual abuse. And she has basically said that what's going on with Taylor and her family has been a triggering situation for her because of what she's opened up about from her childhood. So Taylor even addresses that in this post, talking about how this person,

because she doesn't say Michaela's name outright, but she says that this person has made a comment about her Taylor's experience being triggering for this person's childhood experience. So, again, not to get too much into it, but I think Taylor, if a lot of people are telling you to get offline and to not be sharing certain things, I don't think that the answer is, well, I'm going to keep doing this. And she very much said in some of the comments I saw because May is Mental Health Awareness Month. people were like, go focus on your mental health

because it's Mental Health Awareness Month. And she was like, no, I'm going to keep speaking because it's mental health awareness month. It's just like, Taylor's going to do what Taylor wants to do. I think we've all learned that in this process, especially those who didn't know Taylor before all this went down. I just personally think, and not that anybody's asking for my opinion,

but I just think it's time to put the phone down because I don't think that every single thought or feeling needs to be shared on the internet with strangers. And my feeling about that is you're not putting it out there for you. When you write that kind of stuff on the internet, you're actually putting it out there so that you get clicks and headlines. And as a public figure,

like you're actually not doing anything. You're not repairing or showing your followers. or your fans had a deal with conflict, you're actually doing this so that you get clicks and attention. And that, to me, is not focusing on your mental health or prioritizing your mental health. I think it's perpetuating a cycle of when people hurt us and wrong us to public shame and continue this vicious cycle.

and I think that she's been in this so long and been in the eye of the storm for so long that I don't even know if she realizes that that's what she's doing when she continues to post cryptic things. Yeah, it feels good. I mean, that's the reason people do it is because it has that immediate rush of satisfaction

where you're like, this feels good, but is it actually helpful? Which has kind of been what we've been talking about through this whole experience, is sometimes what feels good is actually not the most helpful thing long term or for the healing or for anybody to grow. It just feels good. You took the words out of my mouth.

It's instant gratification. It's getting kindness or what you hope to be kindness or attention from strangers. Because that's what your followers are. They're strangers actually. So it's seeking validation and a quick dopamine hit from people that you actually don't know. if Taylor is actually listening and wants just a tip of something that I've done in the last year and a half, start a notes app. And instead of sending the text, write the date.

She has a note titled Ben and it just has like a thousand things. I would never. No, but I do have angry text messages written out in the moment that I do want sent. I like that. Yeah, I literally have a full app. and I would be very scared if somebody found. I was just going to say, if that thing leaks, that's going to be awesome. It actually would be a little mortifying.

I think about that. If somebody ever, like, found my phone because I lost it and they were like, maybe I could find information on this person and they read that ongoing notes app. Horrifying. But Taylor, maybe you should try that. Write the angry caption, write the angry text and then save it. Don't send it. Just and read it as many times as you want.

or don't read it ever again. The thing is, is that I think she thinks that she's doing something like, again, the public shaming, like it has an impact or an effect. And I think what we've learned from your group of friends, and again, I'll put quotes around the word friends because you did, is that things change on a dime. So you're mad at Michaela today, but I'm going to bet in a couple of weeks that we'll be singing a different tune. But that's just my opinion.

We can only hope. Adventure. It's in Toronto with flights and hotel. Entry to the IHeart Radio sound check party and $1,000. Cash. Download the free IHart Radio app. Listen to IHart Heavy Rock for 10 minutes for your chance to win. June 5th that don't miss the IHart Radio Evanescence Sanctuary Album Release Party,

featuring their new single, Who Will You Follow? Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Jim Gaffigan to Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman, help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

There's the worst singer in the group. The worst? Yeah. Me. Is there anything to the idea that because you're from Harvard, uh, you only got in because your parents. made a huge donation.

The group. The yard birds, right? That's the name. The Harvard Yardt. They're open. Do you have a name suggestion? We're open. Since you guys are middle-aged.

One erection. Listen to humor me with Robert Smygel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Humor me. I need some jokes to make me seem funny. Jacob, and grew up in an isolated polygamous sect.

We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies

I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant, too, a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going.

From the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki.

The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app. podcasts for wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Taylor, final headline. And we're going to talk about now kind of the ABC summer, the ABC summer slate. This is always an interesting time of the year, kind of get an idea of the strategy, for one, that the network is trying to push forward, what the network is excited about, what they feel confident in as they move into the summer.

we can kind of see what has been new and planned and creative behind the scene. So the summer slate was announced. Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette season is absent from it. There was rumors, Heather, that we've talked about that it might be airing this summer, especially with, you know, kind of the process they're in when it comes to the courts and everything that's happened. But it's absent from the ABC summer slate. So, Heather, what does this mean? Does it mean that we think it's gone gone now?

No. And to be fair, right? This article and all these articles are coming out about it being left off the slate because last week, reality, Steve went out and was being very adamant that his insider knowledge was saying that the show is airing this summer and that he knows it's airing on ABC. So when this came out, everybody was like, that's not on the schedule. It's not on the schedule. people. The up fronts for ABC will be tomorrow, Tuesday. Okay. In my opinion, this doesn't mean anything that it's not on the schedule. Okay.

Rob Mills has left that door open for a reason. And personally, I don't think we're going to hear anything set in stone about Taylor until Taylor gets some sort of custody granted back to her. I don't think that you announce your show is coming to the. the air when your lead has eight or 12 hours of supervised visitation with their child court ordered. I think that that's a bad look. And so I think that they're waiting. If I'm an executive, I'm waiting until my lead gets some sort of normalcy back to their schedule. Now, normalcy meaning in this situation, she's got an active protective order against her baby daddy for

three years and he's got one out against her. But at least you know that they are in situations where they are not going to see each other and make contact. And then, okay, now she's got custody back. Okay, now I'm feeling a little bit more secure in airing my show about her finding love. This also is not a Hulu's announcement of their schedule. I think everybody needs to remember that. Like as much as reality, Steve says that he has insider knowledge that it's going to air on ABC.

I mean, we'll see, we'll see. But I also have a very strong feeling that the show, depending on when it comes out, could be, again, depending on when it comes out, we're all speculating at this point. I don't know anything. I would say it's going to go on Hulu. I think that depending on when it comes out, depending on what else is out at the same time. Because let's not forget,

one of the biggest dating shows in the world comes out this summer, and that's Love Island. And it's on five days a week. And that is a massive, massive show to compete with in terms of an audience. So I think that there's a lot more at play here than just what's on ABC's schedule.

But if you care, Thursday, June 25th, CMA Fest, presented by SoFi. July 9th, we're going to see Celebrity Family Feud and Press Your Luck. July 13th, Dancing with the Stars, The Next Pro. That's the one that's hosted by Robert Irwin.

And then the 2026 SBs are coming on July 15th. And July 22nd, who wants to be a millionaire? You know what's interesting? I was just about to ask some sources that are pretty close to the situation of what's going on.

Dance with the Stars has done such a good job at kind of reinventing themselves and coming back into popularity. Obviously, Joey G. One, two years ago, and they really utilized him over the last year, which I think is such a good thing.

You know, I do think that's one thing. Maybe ABC has learned about Dance with the Stars is when they come off and they're popular and they win, like to keep them in the forefront on the show for as long as possible. However, and I, I mean, obviously, I love Joey. We're good friends.

Is Robert Irwin winning the worst thing to happen to Joey when it comes to his future with Dancing with the Stars? Because now he is everywhere and you don't hear Joey getting as much of the like gig for Dance with the Stars. I mean, yeah, right. Is Joey coming back for the Dancing with the Stars podcast? That's a good question because he did a good job with that. Yeah. And I don't think that's been. announced yet.

Listen, I think with Robert Irwin, it's how do we utilize this winner? Again, what if, okay, so let's say Joey is hosting the podcast again. Well, we love Robert Irwin so much. What do we do with him? Oh, we get- Let's create a show. Give it to him. And if it's, if it's me making the decision, it's, how do we get the audience to hang on

and love him? and fall in love with him more while we, you know, craft him as our next bachelor. That is what I think is happening here, people. And so, yeah, that's that. I am thrilled that Robert Irwin is getting another shot at being in front of the camera because I think he is so fun to watch and he brings so much energy. That guy is so smiling and so happy. He grew up in a hosting household, too.

It's not like he hasn't seen it for a lot of his life. His dad become not only just a person we love, but a good host of a show doing crazy stuff. So he has this skill set. It's born into him. Exactly. And his sister, like, they're just both so natural on camera. So I think it'll be cute to see what this show is all about. But I mean, you know Ben probably way more than I do.

But hosting a season one show has got to be so nerve-wracking because you are stepping into uncharted territory and you're also setting the tone as a host. Like, he's going to be the one that's like kind of like leading and showing what this, you know, new TV show is all about. I would say it's an easier gig than what Jesse Palmer had to do. do. Okay, that makes sense. Yeah, you're not stepping into shoes that have been filled for almost 20 years. Who host? Who wants to be a millionaire now? I think it's still Kimmel. Is it Kimmel? That makes sense.

Yeah. ABC's got a full lineup. Nothing crazy new here that I'm looking at when it comes to things we're unfamiliar with, but things we can be excited about as the summer approaches. Heather, we'll continue to follow the news about Taylor Frankie Paul, what we hear about her season airing while also covering all the other headlines happening in Bachelor Nation. It's interesting. Now our episodes aren't only Taylor Frankie Paul focused. Other Bachelor Nation people are continuing to make the airwaves and keep us intrigued and interested as we go. We'll be back this week with another breakdown of the Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Farmer wants a wife. And a Q&A. We have to do a Ben Q&A because I did one with Ashley last week and it was

really fun. So we'll do one with you too since Ashley is out mostly this week, guys. She's being famous. We'll do a Q&A. It's going to be great. It's a big week ahead. So until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Heather. We'll talk to you soon. Follow the Ben and Ashley I I, almost famous podcasts on IHeart Radio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last?

Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward.

At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear.

Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.