The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The Bachelor That Never Was, Has Tied The Knot with Peter Kraus and Hana Ostapchuck

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

Ben and Ashley are hanging out with one of the newest married couples in Bachelor Nation when Peter Kraus and his new wife Hana Ostapchuk stop by!  We hear all about their fairy tale wedding and how they’re preparing for their baby girl.  Plus, Ben and Ashley have some new parent tips to share! If you’re expecting, write these down!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high. And the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right.

Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on. And the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here.

But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. They're cheap. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast.

Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm and even just reading the comments. That's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow. And the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens

to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know Roll Doll. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, The Secret World of Roll Doll,

I'll tell you that story. and much, much more. What? You probably won't believe it either. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you.

I was a spy. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A man with Down syndrome tries the impossible, the grand slam in turkey hunting. Four, 53 hits. We're legal sheet and light.

And he gives us this one last. Justin. And he pitches off. And when he pitches off, he flies right into the gun barrel. I said to the cameraman, do you have it? He said, shoot him. I said, Justin, shoot. You can download this episode and others from Lines and Tines with Spencer Graves

on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with IHartRadio. Hey, guys, welcome to the almost famous podcast. Today we have such a treat. We have newlyweds, Peter Krause, and Hannah Obst. Okay, I'm good. Obs chock. Oh, stop, Chuck.

It was great. And you know what? I do plan on changing my name to Krause officially, so it doesn't even matter. So thank you for that first answer, because that, of course, is on our rundown of questions. Are you going to change your name? Have you been dying to change your name your whole life? I mean, I always joked that I wanted to marry, like, a Smith or a Jones. Like, somebody with a run.

like, I was like, I need a basic last name because, yeah, oh, stopchuk coming from sports broadcasting, it was just like, everyone, that was their first question to me, they were like, quick, how do we say your name? So you're not alone. It's easy now. Yeah, it's really true. Grouse is a pretty easy name. Yeah, perfect.

We nailed that one. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we can get that one down. Just congratulations. You guys have had a wild six months. It was crazy because the last time, Peter was on here. It was May 2025 and he was, I mean, Hannah,

just the cutest is absolutely gushing about you and saying that you guys would be engaged by the end of the year. But lo and behold, you were actually married by the end of the year and also with child. Yeah, with a child. A little bit of a plot twist in there. What I put the mind to something, I do it.

Yeah. Did you know, I mean, remind me, did you know that this was how it was gonna play? out when you were on our show, Peter? Okay. I mean, I knew I was going to get engaged in the year. I didn't think we'd be married within the year, that's for sure. Okay, okay. Definitely didn't think we'd be pregnant and expecting at the same time.

Okay, but you found out. Yeah, didn't you find out that you were pregnant after the proposal? Yeah, it was literally like six days later. Yeah. I think it was within seven or eight days. It was truly, it was eight days later on the dot. I went to one of his workout classes and somebody was like, you're glowing. It's the engagement glow

And I was like, oh, and then I was like, Eureka, mental note, I'm actually a day late. So it was one of those things. But yeah, we took a pregnancy test and yeah, plot twist, total plot twist,

but it was, it's all great timing. We figured it out. I mean, I've never wanted like a long engagement anyways. I think we're too old for a note. Really, that way.

Like I was like, I don't want to be engaged for like two years. Like, we don't have time. So, that happened and you know i guess it kind of worked out i would say it worked out let's have a parenting conversation real quick one of our favorite topics that have on this show um in all honesty i'm i don't want to make any assumptions when you found out what was the initial emotion oh my god we had complete opposite reactions

i had just laid down for a nap and she's like i'm going to take a pregnancy test i'm like please don't do it now i'd really like take it they're taking nap i haven't slept in few days. And she's like, now, now is the time. And so when she did take the first one, it was positive, the initial reaction was like, all right, just relax, take another one. And then it was take another one, another one. And I just started laughing. I couldn't help it laugh at the whole situation. He was laughing. And she immediately started crying. I was like, this is backwards. This is not how it's supposed to be. Like, oh, my God. I was having a mental breakdown. Funny enough, my best friend who has kids had gotten me the pregnancy test,

like sort of as a joke when I moved in with Peter. So I was like, these are rigged. Like these days. So I made Peter P on a stick. We learned it was not big. We had to have a control, and I was the control. That's brilliant. Yeah, that's brilliant.

You lose to say, I'm not pregnant. Wow, that's so. funny. Okay, so I understand that you probably were excited about wearing a wedding dress in a traditional way. It sounds so stupid, but like you spend your whole life thinking about what you would look like in a wedding dress. And then if you search on Pinterest like pregnancy bride, nothing good comes up. Like truly nothing. Your dress was stunning. It was perfect. Yeah, it was perfect. It was just one of those things where I was like, okay, I have to reshift everything in my brain that I thought I would have. Of course. It was the death of a dream there.

Yes. Oh, thank you for getting that because it's like I felt so silly in the whole process being like I'm not a I can't be like a, you know, a Pinterest bride. But I like once once I got to the day of I was like I honestly couldn't care less. So that worked out. You are a Pinterest bride. So now when people Google it, they're going to see you and they're like, oh, that looks nice. Like that looks good. Exactly. You are going to show up as one of the top options. Oh my gosh. Well, thanks guys. I appreciate that. I want to keep going though in this. So you were crying. There was like a lot, obviously a lot of emotion. When did it start to like settle in though?

I mean, even for, you know, for me, we had been trying. Like this was a plan to have. And right now I am sitting next to my daughter as she throws, it looks like, kind of she's across the floor. But. And like even. for me, I was like shocked. We were trying.

And when Jess told me she was pregnant, I was like, whoa. And then all of a sudden, like, it sat in. And I was very nervous, like for a long time. So anyways, when did it set in for you? How did this all kind of like sift through in your minds? I mean, for me, it went in waves. I think in the beginning it was just like, okay, this is almost unbelievable. So it didn't really hit as real yet.

But then over the next like weeks and months, and especially once we did the ultrasound and then she started to have a baby bump, like the more into the process it's been, the more realistic it gets, the more exciting I get. But I'm very like, I need to see it and believe it before it, like, really sets in. It's like, if someone says goodbye, like, even, I don't really process the goodbye to us and I go to call them, they're not there. I was like, oh, so having a baby for the first time with no baby bump was, I don't know,

hard to understand. I think it takes men a little bit longer. I mean, Ashley, you probably get this. Like, I, the minute you get pregnant, I feel like everything changes. Like, your body changes and shifts daily. Even if you're not like full-blown belly bump, you're just like, you can feel it mentally, internally. Like, I feel it in my skin, my, everything. Yes, everything was taken from me.

I felt like everything was stolen. Yes, I was like, I have acne. I haven't had acne in 10 years. What is going on? Like, things like that where he was like, it is funny to look. look back on because I did think I was showing for a long time where now I can safely say I'm like I'm in my third trimester I'm very much showing but um I think that's maybe why it took him a long time because to him I like it was no difference you know until we felt that heartbeat and really saw her so how did you feel otherwise because Jared really couldn't not know because I threw up for 30 weeks straight wow yeah with our first it was totally different I had hyper emissus gravitarium. So it was, you know, so it was awful.

And then I totally expected to have it again the second time because the likelihood is very high. And I didn't. Like I just had like a regular yucky pregnancy. But like even physically, like I didn't look nearly as honestly heinous. I looked like a pregnant lady. Whereas like beforehand, it was like, is she well? So anyway.

Not about me. How did you feel? No, I get that completely. I wasn't sick. Like, I wasn't throwing up, but I was nauseous. I actually felt like things would be easier if I could just throw up, but I just didn't have that. But yeah, I wasn't feeling great. I was definitely hormonal.

There were moments. Yeah. Went it through. That was fine. There were moments where I was like, should we even get married now? What should we do? Like, just rethinking the entire. thought process of our lives.

I'm so excited to talk about this because I am sitting here today, Jessica, for Christmas, I thought it was such a good idea to buy her a spa day because she does so much. Well, today was that day. And yet I forgot to block this day off from all other things. So we're doing it. I now know why Jessica deserved a spa day because of the last, like even just two hours of my life. But you're doing great. You're doing great.

It is the coolest thing. It is nothing but fantastic. When did this whole thing turn into excitement, or has it turned into excitement yet for you? Oh, honestly so. Oh, yeah. I mean, nonstop excitement. I think the moment it set in for me. I don't know what day or time that was, but it's like the wedding was great, but it really

like shifted gears to the baby. Like everything's been babies since that point. And the wedding was beautiful and it was amazing. It was perfect from like start to finish. it was just like the baby brings a whole new excitement to life as a whole, which is so great. I actually think once we found out it was a girl was when we really shifted into just like such excitement. I think the fear went away then because we had always talked about, you know, we would want a girl first. I don't know why, but we just both said that. And so then when we realized

it was a girl, it just felt like such a gift. And I was like, okay, this is like everything we wanted. It's happening. It's just happening faster than we thought. And that's okay. So, just like rewiring our brains a little bit. Oh, that's so nice. That's so sweet. I just can't wait to hug her. I want to kiss her and hugger. Aw, so cute.

Yeah, you're going to be broken. You're going to be absolutely broken, my man. I'm going to be trying on that little girl's finger. It's so bad. It's going to, yeah, yeah. She's like, she will destroy you in the best of ways. Like a mush, like mush. much. I'm like solidly not having another kid, but now Ben says this. And I'm like, so I have to gender select a girl.

Oh, man. Okay. Well, so where when you found out that you were going to have a baby and then you were also going to get married and you said that like you had to change your whole mentality as far as dress and like kind of planning goes. What? Why did you decide to not get married? after having the baby. Did you want to be like traditional in that sense? Part of me was just like I knew that once I had a baby, I wouldn't give a crap about a wedding. So I just was like. So accurate. Yeah, it was like the only way to do it is just to do it now.

And I'm like traditional in the sense like I would rather be married before having a baby. But I wasn't, I didn't want to like force it and rush it. And so we came up with like a few dates. And I think the ones like after the. the baby, I was just like, who cares? Like, the only thing in the way was my ego. So I was like, am I really going to let my ego stop us from having a wedding beforehand when we have time and we can do it?

Like, so what? I'm not going to be this like thing that I thought I would be. But I just had to have that talk with myself. And I was like, Hannah, who cares? It's like so stupid. So I think that was honestly the only reason. And that being the only reason, like my physical self was like, I was like, can't I get over it? And yeah.

So that was it. I mean, we had a lot of conversations about it. Yeah. It's like life doesn't stop just because of something that we have on our schedule. So at some point, there's going to be something else. And if it was now the baby's little, we got to have the baby involved or the baby not involved. So I must take care of the baby. And it's like, well, what if you get pregnant again right away?

Then do we push off another year? It's like, what's the difference. It's, we're getting married and that's what's most important. And I actually thought it was more exciting being pregnant during the wedding because it created a family, unit right then and there. That's so sweet. Versus just the two of us. We did have a lot of kids at our wedding.

So many kids. Yeah, which was fun. Because, like, spoiler alert, I was obviously carrying one. So I was like, we're going to have, like, we didn't have bridesmaidsmaids or groomsmen. We were just like, let's have all of our nieces and nephews in the wedding. So we did that.

And yeah, I think that ended up just being so fun. And it was like, it was such a family-oriented thing, not knowing it would come out like that. I mean, there was part of me that, like, you know, Peter was getting fit in first tux and I was like, lucky you. You just have to get, you know, you have no body changes. And that's nice. But I mean, you looked great.

You did too. You guys both like absolutely stunning. Those pictures were like, I don't even know what to say underneath them. I'm like, this is just like actually in like home goods in the frames. Oh, my gosh. That's good. That's good, Ashley. I like that.

Yeah, it was great. That's so funny. New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the How to Money podcast. And every week, we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen.

Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyalkiwali. And I'm Hurricane de Bolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed?

We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health, and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone.

Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every January, We're encouraged to start over, but what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care.

If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLerotcha and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey there, this is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the mailroom podcast. Each January guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all?

To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two-part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof. why shame hides in plain sight and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others. Guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved.

Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion. If you want this to be the year, you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. A decade ago, I was on the trail,

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

Listen for free on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Jared and I were reminiscing on before having killed, and how we used to like plan our dream house. And we were like, the kitchen will look like this with this kind of hardware. And now, you know, you have like all these details and grand plans. And then you have a kid and you're like,

remember when we cared about the hardware we were going to put it on the cabinets? That's so silly. All I care about now is that they have a huge open space for all their toys and like maybe we'll think about this when they're in middle school. Totally. That's, I mean, that was literally kind of kind of,

conversation in the wedding itself is just life is going to keep going and things are going to change and priorities will shift. What we'll stress about now will not matter in six, 12, 24 months, whatever. Yeah. It's so crazy how much it doesn't. Yeah. So baby moon, honeymoon, combined, what are we doing? None of the above. None of that. I mean, like, we don't have time. Did you guys all do one? Like, I did not do a baby moon either time now. Okay. We did, but we wrapped it around like a work trip. And so it was just like going to a cool place and we stay. at a hotel for two extra days. I mean, it was great.

But, you know, at the same time, I think when you get later and later in pregnancy, I think Ashley, you know, I don't know, Jessica was kind of like just wanted to be home. So traveling anyways was like more inconvenient than it wasn't like, and it's not like she can have a cocktail on the beach. It's not like we can go out late. Like, you know, food was always like messing with her in certain ways. So honestly, I think it was just great. for her to be home. Those were our best memories. Yeah, absolutely. I second that. I think that if anything,

do like the after baby moon. If you have like a pair of grandparents that are willing to watch for four nights, ones the baby's like four months. We did do our little paradise stint there and it was four months in and it was perfect. Oh, okay. That's good. I do hear that it's easy to travel. Easier to travel than you think with a baby that's under six months. So we're already planning a few I mean, technically two trips coming up. Yeah. Winona has 25 flights under her belt, and she's 11 months old. I think my kids were the exact same.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. You guys make it sound easy. I feel like, I mean, my family's in Florida. I like to go to Florida. So, I mean, like, to us, it's like if we can just pop down there and, you know, my mom would be thrilled if they left the baby for a day.

Oh, yeah. And we're in Florida. So you can actually just drive somewhere. close and it'll feel like a vacation far away. That's perfect. And don't listen to Ben. Ben has the easiest baby that's ever existed. But I will tell you, Hannah, whoever told you the six month period is very accurate because they will fall asleep on the plane kind of whenever between zero to six months. But once you get to the six months to two, that is hell on earth. because that's when they don't want to watch iPad.

They won't watch TV yet. And they do not know what in the world to do. The people will be like snacks or like the spinners. I'm like, yes, for two minutes at a time. The rest of it's like, I speak as somebody who is currently in it. But just a variety of snacks can help. Yeah. Anything.

It doesn't matter how unhealthy it is. Sorry, Peter. I know. Just give them cookies. Yeah, totally. And they're also her child, and trust me, there's plenty of cookies for those kids. Yeah, I always do is candy and sweets. That's like been my only craving, my only like weird craving is like the occasional salt and vinegar, anything.

And then just like sugar, sweets, candy, sour candy, regular candy. We had like a candy bar at the wedding because I was like, this is the only bar I could be at. So I'm going to just hang here. But there's an assortment of different types of candies that I've now all brought back to Wisconsin. That's awesome. I had like a my strange addiction. Like I wanted to eat detergent. Powder detergent both times.

What? Wait, that means something. That's like I had like low iron. Yeah. But it wasn't significantly as low as you would think if the fact that I really wanted to eat detergent both times. but okay um so are there any baby items that people have been suggesting to you guys like what's on the registry are you having a baby shower this is a great conversation because it's very different between the two of us okay uh hana's got a very long list of baby items and mine had like two

okay i just feel like i know more about babies than peter does and so i'm like this is what we need. This is, but I will say that it's like, it's really easy to get stuck into the weeds of what people say you need for a baby. And then it's like, you have to just like drop the crap and be like,

I actually don't need the Nike version of whatever this is. We went through our like baby list and he was like, why do we have so many things that are high price? And I was like, you're right. Like, it's kind of silly. So there's a lot of things that we like nixed from the baby list. And we luckily have a lot of good friends and family who,

So many hammy downs. Yeah. Like I don't even think we need to buy one outfit. Did you feel that way? Like everyone just keeps giving us girl clothes. I'm like, great. I didn't have that for some reason, but my sister just had a boy like three days ago. So now this is the third boy things in almost four years.

So this baby has all the hammy downs and he also has all the hammy down equipment, which is so nice. They barely had to get anything. Yeah. But yeah, so it works out like that. I've got some funds and clients that have babies around the same, I guess, like age. Yeah. Like young babies or toddlers still. And so we're getting a lot of their stuff.

That's so great. That's so nice. That's so great. We're trying to build a business, buy a house, all these things in life that why spend $800,000 on one piece of equipment when we can just get it from someone else? Yes, absolutely. And then I was going to say about houses. Because this is my biggest advice to new parents who like are in that in between.

Like oftentimes you'll be living in an apartment and you'll feel this pressure that you need to live in a house for a baby. And my biggest advice is for that first year, absolutely no. Just stay put where you are because the baby does not take up much space at all at that point. And you can transform like a little look for them. They don't need this Instagramable nursery. Totally. 100%. I have no.

we have no nursery and we we have a you know a second bedroom that's like lovely but it's always been our makeshift office and absolutely restroom and all of that so it's like we're going to put her stuff in there but you know for a while they sleep with you in the bass net next to the bed it's like it's fine i once she can remember what life is like i will obviously have a room for her and we'll make sure it's like you know it's great but i again trying not to fall into that trap of thinking you need everything because people are like, okay, I'm, you know, I'm 30 weeks right now. So then people are like, I see on my TikTok algorithm, it'll be like people who are, you know, 33 weeks and they're like, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the nursery.

And I'm like, ah, we're not doing that. But that's okay. That's like my biggest advice is don't listen to influencers when it comes to like having the perfect space put together. Yeah. It almost needs to be de-influenced. Yes. And seriously, great idea.

That's a great idea. Everyone needs to just do less in the early stage department because it's true. They don't, I mean, my mom, who's so excited is like, okay, we have a pool. We got to like, you know, I have to figure out how to gate the pool. And I'm like, mom, you know. The baby's not moving. We won't be mobile. Six months.

For like a minimum a year. Like, you're okay. Yeah, you are okay. I'm curious, though, because we've talked a lot about babies. What has it been like for the two of you? I mean, obviously, when you're on here, Peter, you said, hey, I'm going to get engaged by the end of the year. We've talked about the expedited timeline. We talked about the beautiful wedding.

We talked about the gift and the joy it is that you will be, that you're expecting a little monster. But for the two of you as a couple, I would have to think, like, it's this is, you've had to navigate a lot and have more intense conversations than most, you know, pre-engaged couples have had. So can you walk all of us through kind of how you guys have navigated it, where you stand today and how you feel like you're a team? Yeah, I think empathy leads the way. You just got to be open and understanding and allow space for a lot of challenging conversations and listen a lot to why someone feels the way they feel. Try not to interject during those conversations, allow someone to get out exactly what they need to get out. And then I just have to sit with it and process it before I have to like, be the dad in the situation and start trying to like make decisions.

It's actually been really great. It's allowed us to build a relationship that much stronger and I think allowed us to move so fast. So it's, it's easy to have, I guess, challenging conversations when the love between us with each step just gets stronger and stronger. Yeah. Like I think on our wedding day, I didn't expect to feel a change, but I felt a change. Like it really increased my love for her. And then during our wedding, I felt like, I felt. the baby kick my arm while we're staying there at the altar.

Oh, my goodness, that's so special. Yeah. I'm thinking myself, like, it's further proof that this is all right, and there's no reason to question it, and little things will come up throughout the process, and they're not that serious. We'll deal with them as they come. Yeah. So I try not to overthink any of it.

Yeah, that's a good way of looking at it. I think that at the end of the day, it sounds silly, but I always just have to remind myself, like, we're walking and answered prayers. Like, these are, this is what we wanted and from our life. And again, it happened quickly. So just knowing that these were like, this was all an answer prayer to us and like these things that we wanted. It's, um, it's so refreshing. But of course, there's a side of me, like, I see couples who are like, you know, I've been together for 10 years and had so much time together before getting married and before having kids. And I'm like, oh, that must be really cool. Like, I don't know what that's like. But I also think the silver lining is that we'll

have a little bit of like, I don't even know how to describe it, like a, this sounds bad, but like a selfishness in our relationship with this new family that we're building, like, we'll prioritize making time for each other so much more because we didn't really have, you know, like years and years and years of dating before all of this happened. So I think it'll help us like prioritize each other. New year, new goals. And in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary. than ever. I am Matt and I'm Joel. We are from the How to Money podcast and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen.

Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyanko Wali. And I'm Hurricane de Bolo. It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that, or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that.

We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health, and how the world around us, affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds,

and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotia on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLaurocha and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey there, this is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the Mailroom podcast.

Each January guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two-part conversation,

we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening, to yourself and to others. Guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion.

If you want this to be the year, you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers, but it wasn't until 2020.

when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the son of Sam, available now. Listen for free on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts,

wherever you get your podcasts. I don't want to give advice, but at least... I do. I do. I have one X. Go ahead. but based on my relationship those two years that jesska and i spent as just a married couple were magical they were they were so fun they were very free um there was no responsibilities it was do whatever you want but i mean this when i say it i think jessica would agree they make zero sense to us now like with winnie in our lives this is where our life started this is when our marriage like

started. So yes, they were fun. They're great. We love them, but they don't make any sense to us anymore because how in the world did we survive, like, do life without this little girl? And I, and I, I only say that because I want, I know that temptation will be there to be like, gosh, you know, you know, what, uh, we missed out on that like, that honeymoon phase. But the honeymoon phase with a child just brings us closer together. And I, and I wish that for the two of you. Thank you for saying that. That's great. That's like,

I totally visualize that and I love looking forward to that idea, that concept, because that does seem so real to me. I see it in my friendships and like their relationships too. Yeah. Ben put that really beautifully. I would say in my own less beautified way. It does feel like marriage begins when the baby comes. There's just like a lot more like a lot more like communication.

I don't know what it is. Just like if the relationship feels more of like something that you have to like talk through a lot more. Whereas like before it, it feels like you're just like friends having a great time together. You're just you're hanging out. You're having fun. Like everything's off the seat of your pants. But like it feels like marriage really like begins then. Because I think that almost like before kids, it's kind of a continuation of dating.

Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Okay. And then I was also going to say that I think that when you have only one child, it also can remain a little bit more light feeling. You're going to be able to get in more date nights, you know, grandparents ask them to take care of a one kid.

No deal. They can handle that. Getting a babysitter, like wanting to do that. Also, so cute, so easy. and then putting one kid to bed and then being able to watch a movie. Yeah, you can do that. You can eat dinner after you put the baby to bed

and kind of feel like your nights are normal. Then you have two, and then you're just like, we're chickens with our heads cut off. Wait, how far apart are the ages of your kids? They're two and a half years. It's very perfect. But like when you're, it's the almost, he's almost four, and then the one and a half,

it's definitely there's like a chaotic period of life. There's just like no denying that if you have a three and a one year and a half year old, it's going to be nuts. Sure. I could totally see that. There's a like a depiction of happiness or how I would say it, there's like a chart showing happiness and shows those who are single without kids tend to be the least happy. Overall, those who are married with kids tend to be like the highest peak of unhappiness. Wait, the highest peak of unhappiness? Yeah, but then they have the greatest return unhappiness long term.

So it's like, it's basically saying that like when someone is like early in their relationship, they're young, they have two kids. There's a lot of stress on that relationship, that family, the day to day. Like there's lack of sleep. There's a lot of financial stress for a lot of people. There's just a lot of challenges. Yeah. But then having your child grow up in front of your eyes and seeing the result of all your hard work results in the highest peak of happiness hands down by the end of all. Interesting.

Well, that's when you talk to older people. they say what part of your life do you wish you could return and relive like in just enjoying mode and older people usually say that when their kids are little like not like necessarily one and three but like before 10 and i thought you were going to say that like once all your kids reach the age of five that was going to be happiness i don't know when the like the change happens but like it's like stress hands down and then it's once things start to like level off and the kids are growing up and they're not as, I guess, needy of your time and attention and finances, it's much easier to sit back and see the result of all your hard work.

And I think like anything in life, when you work hard, your enjoyment or happiness resulting from that hard work is so much higher than if it just came to you. And so your kids are by the hardest thing that you're ever going to experience in life. Yeah. And so the result is the greatest happiness. Yeah. I would also argue that having a kid is hard. It isn't as bad and hard as what, like, people are going to start.

telling you here. And Peter, here's the cool part. And I seem to be so focused on your relationship because I think it's wonderful, the things and the steps that you've taken here. But you're going to get to fall in love all over again, too, as a hug. Like, it's crazy. You have very little to do with the success of this child for the first few weeks. Like, you are, you're a solid bench player, filling in when you get called in to the game. But there, and I know Jared would agree. agree with me. I called Jared in a lot. Maybe Jared would not agree with me with him. No, no, no. Jared loved, he loves being active with them. That was always his way. But seeing

the person you love turn into a mother is the coolest feeling as a husband. And I, that's a, that's 100% true across the board. I've never met a husband who's like, yeah, I saw my wife as a mother. And that was, that sucked. it is it is so cool that you get to experience not only that wedding day where you look down and see your bride but also very soon the day you know you two become parents because you get like two of the coolest feelings in the world back to back and then like I said I wasn't kidding when I said be prepared to be rot everything in your life is going to change and you are going to be a mush ball for maybe ever now so have fun

I always say Peter is like such a smush to begin with. Like there's like him having a girl, to me just made sense. He's such a girl dad. It's like crazy. It's like crazy. You've only, you know, spent a number of days in his presence, but like you just reek girl dad in the best way. 100%.

It's so true. And he started with like a girl dog and then me and now an actual daughter. So it's just like really funny. He's like, I'm surrounded. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of estrogen in his house. Business also was led by a bunch of women. So I'm like, let's freaking go. It's happening.

My dad was always surrounded by women and female dogs as well. Like he didn't even want a boy dog in the house. No way. Yeah, so he never craved that. And you know, my parents are crazy. They actually didn't go for a third because they didn't want a boy. No way. They're so, and now they have three grandsons, which is absolutely hilarious.

And they're obsessed with them. Yeah. I know it goes all the way, like the Jonah. brothers have all all girls and they were all boys. See? Yeah, like him and I both only a brother. So we only know what it's like with boys in the house. So but I always wanted sisters and like grew up watching the Kardashians and was like, you know, wanted that.

She and her mom are like peas in a pot. They're identical twins and best friends and I have a feeling that this daughter is going to be exactly the same way. It's going to be like watching triplets when they're together. That's so so sweet. like that outlier like love you guys all okay so sweet before we let you guys go i just have to say okay so when peter was on our podcast in may i like geeked out hannah that like you end up being his wife because you and i met so soon after my time on the bachelor was even before i wanted to go film bachelor in paradise but like we hit it off at that party and i followed you and have been following

you on instagram ever since so when i saw the two of you together together I was like, this world is far too small. Yeah. You guys met on dating at? Yeah. Yes. Well, technically we met in 2017 in Las Vegas. While I was with you in Los Vegas and Ben, Ben, myself and Dean were at a pool.

This was so strange. I want to say it was that the... So weird. I don't know. It doesn't. It's a planet of Hollywood. We were playing in Hollywood. Yeah.

And we were just like out by the pool and she came up with... actually herself to start on a bachelor's. Nobody else would know. This was just like my, this, a season of, I mean, I just, I spent my entire 20s being like the chronically single friend. And so, yeah, I was on a bachelorette party. And I, you know, we saw them at the pool. And I was like, how funny would it be if, you know,

we're on a bachelor party. We have to go talk to the guys from bachelors. It's, you know, it's too funny. So I led the way. And yeah, I didn't even like, I don't remember. I actually didn't remember this. My cousin, whose bachelor party was, just had to remind me that this all happened.

Such a nuanced thing. Like it was like, I think we all spoke for like five minutes at the pool and it was like a funny story and then we, that was it. That was it. Like I don't remember anything. It wasn't like I'm the single bunch of my friends and Peter Krause is over there and I'm going to go like make this happen. No, I wasn't really going for anything.

I just was like, I don't know. I have no idea why it approached. But yeah, that was a really funny time. There were a few instances where him and I will talk about how we were definitely in the same room. We're at the same party, like Super Bowls and... Miami, New York. Yeah. Las Vegas multiple times where we cross paths.

We just like put our timelines together and realized we probably passed each other at some point multiple times in my life. Anybody like want to write a rom-com about this? Sounds pretty good. It is really funny to think about. But yeah, like I liked The Bachelor. Like I watched it and it's especially in its peak day. So, like, I knew who he was. And even when I saw him on Raya all those years later, I was like, oh, yeah, that's Peter Krause from The Bachelor.

Like, that's how I still registered who he was. So we matched and she didn't respond or say anything. Well, because also, like, what did you say? Did you start it? Yeah. I decided, hi, nice to meet you. Like, that's it. Like, how's your day?

I don't know. My way of selling a conversation would be very simplistic. It's like if I'm meeting streets. That's nice. you hear. Yeah, I would just say that coming from, I don't know, years of talking to people online, I just like got over it. So I never cared. And I was like, he lives in Wisconsin. I'm never going to be this man. So I didn't answer. And so my rebuttal is why match in the first place? I don't know. Yeah. It's so stupid. But that happened a lot. It's like, it's that thing of like,

you're almost dating has to do with like the mood you're in. It's bizarre. It depends with like with online dating. You're just like sitting on your couch or sitting in your bed before you go to sleep and it fully depends on your mood. So, like, yeah, saw Peter for the bachelor who's like, oh, he's cute. I remember him. Swipe. But then, yeah, I didn't want to respond. But then he came to New York, like, I came to New York.

Yeah. Coincidentally. So we went off for coffee and then coffee late to, okay. So you messaged her again, be like, hi, I'm actually like, I'm coming to New York. Like, let's grab coffee. And that's when she responded. Yeah, that's when I was like, oh, okay, then this is probably worth responding to it. if he's going to be in that.

So yeah. And then. That's persistent. Coffee was like, it wasn't even, I always say it wasn't even like the best coffee ever. Like I wasn't like, oh my God, this is the best first date. It was just his follow up afterwards. Like obviously we had a great conversation. But it was the conversation that happened afterwards and how he was like so adamant about

seeing me again. And he was just immediately like different. Like he was just the way you carried yourself, all of it. Like it. Because at first, it's like this seems like it's too good to be true. Like, and so many cases are. So you just don't even get your hopes up anymore. You know, we met when I was like in my 30s.

So I just, I get that thing of like just being over it and not getting excited. And then when he was like, oh, I want to come see you again. Like I all that stuff. Like I was like, okay, well, you know, we'll see if that happens. But he just time to time again was like proving that he was different and refreshing. And like also very normal. because I didn't think that he would be normal. So, Peter, did you,

did you feel like an instant something at this coffee? Oh, absolutely. Watching her walk up, first of all, I was like, wow, this woman is gorgeous. But then just in talking to her, it was really refreshing to meet someone who was beautiful and well-spoken. That was also just down to her things to talk to.

And then basically, as she said, Like I had been on good first dates and then it was the communication afterwards would either die really fast or it was not, it's like equal and it's like give and take. Whereas this was I would reach out and she would immediately respond or even if it's like literally immediately, but within a good amount of time she would get back to me. And if it was a longer period of time, she'd actually say like, oh, I'm so sorry, I was busy. Like great to hear from you. It just felt like I was being pursued just as much as I was pursuing. assuming her, which I feel like in the dating world is few and far between. I can't tell you how many people, friends I talk to that are talking about how they never hear back, they message once,

and they just get ghosted or they go out on date and they never hear from someone again. It's like no one's putting in the effort. Yeah. And she seemed like she was actually putting in the effort to get to know me. It seems like you guys are just mature because like a lot of the times there's just no, there's no games here. Yeah. And that's what we said. I was like finally a mature smart, intelligent woman who is also beautiful, funny, easy to talk to and charismatic. Yeah, I had no, like, rules in dating. Like, I wasn't going to, like, not text a guy first or, like, any of that. So when he was just, like, you just have to follow the feeling.

Like, if it feels good, then just keep going. Like, keep texting. Like, you just have to be a little, like, what am I trying to say? You have to just, like, take a chance and, like, send a stupid text. Even if you're like, oh, my God, I'm going to text him first. for the first time, you're like internally screaming, but just do it because if it doesn't work out, it'll very obviously not work out or it would, right? And we always used to say, like, if this didn't turn into anything, like, this was early stages, just early odds of like the first

few weeks of texting and talking on the phone all the time after that initial meeting, we would say, like, if this doesn't work out and it was purely refreshing meeting you, because it reminded me that like people that I was looking for, like I wasn't crazy. Like, they existed and They were out there. And then, yeah. And then we just keep talking. And then, yeah, we just, like, completely fell mad. I love the story so, so much.

Also, the maturity, like, probably makes for, like, the ending of your rom-com to, like, not-to-do-you-like, I mean, wonderful for real life, the best for real life. Totally. Yes. There's no twist. Not really. Not yet. Okay, guys.

Well, this is so much fun. I could ask you a zillion more questions. but we will let you go. Congratulations so much on the wedding. It was beautiful. And we can't wait to see your absolutely beautiful child because come on now, the beauty is going to be unreal. Oh my gosh, thank you.

We're convinced she'll have the gap too. Oh, yeah. I think it'll work. Don't get braces on that. It sends a lot of quality. Yeah. We talk to you. Thanks, see you guys.

Bye. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high, and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress.

That's right. Each week, we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. kick off the year with confidence, listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network.

Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The chief. It's time to rebuild. Listen to broken play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms. And I'm Cal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and IHeart Audio Book Club. This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host

and Harry Potter Superfan Reelsay. Diana Dylan to discuss Audibles' full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most? I always loved reading about the Quiddish matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're a surround sound. listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and IHeart

audiobook club on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm and even just reading the comments. That's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester

on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow. And the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin-Brand-Brand. And each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention.

Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know Roll Doll. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, The Secret World of Roll Doll, I'll tell you that story. and much, much more. What? You probably won't believe it either.

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. I was a spy. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.