The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The Golden Rule (is Under 60)

Episode Date: July 10, 2025

Ben and Ashley are breaking down the latest in Bachelor Nation headlines! The Bachelor is returning for season 30, but Ashley doesn’t want the obvious choices. Who do you think will be the next lead??The next Golden Bachelor has made his preferences clear, long before the show’s premiere! Will he even make it to filming??   Plus, which Bachelor Nation alum are we speculating is the host of a new TV show?? Listen to find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble.

Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your... free iHeartRadio app search emergency intercom and listen now every case that is a cold case that has dna right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime on the new podcast america's crime lab every case has a story to tell and the DNA holds the truth he never thought he was going to get caught and i just looked at my computer screen i was just like gotcha this technology's already solving so many cases listen to america's crime lab on

the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Listen to shock incarceration on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, I'm Jennifer Lopez, and in the new season of the Overcomfit Podcast, I'm even more honest, more vulnerable, and more real than ever.

Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? Join me for conversations about healing and growth, all from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Listen to the new season of the Overcombered podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you.

And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc and I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the hosts of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get. out trust me new episodes every Wednesday on exactly right listen wherever you get your podcasts this is the ben and ashley i almost famous podcast with iheart radio this is the almost famous podcast we're here today to break down headlines and we do have a few ashley's with us to break down everything good happening in bachelor nation that we want to share with you all ashley first

headline is this it's a big one the biggest of ones. It keeps our job still available for at least another year, which is cool. The Bachelor has been picked up for season 30. Now, Ashley, rumor has it. Jason Tardick is the frontrunner to become the next Bachelor along with some other names like Dale Moss. So in your breakdown, the Bachelor being picked up for season 30, please let us know if you think those are two good choices for your next Bachelor. To be for real, I wasn't sure if I remembered this headline was a thing or whether I dreamed of it. It is official.

The show has been picked up. People were saying that they were going to use Paradise ratings, Paradise Excitement, to decide whether or not they can continue with The Bachelor. Well, I guess that wasn't a true statement. They are, if they're between, I don't think they'll ever pick Dale. Okay. Do I think that in an ideal world, they would love the Bachelor to come from Paradise? Lawn Nick and Colton, yes, the person is fresh in their memory, or they could choose someone like Jason who is fresh in people's memory because he's so prevalent on social media and he had such a high-profile relationship with Caitlin. I don't want The Bachelor to be either of those men.

Can we come up with somebody else? Sorry, but both of them seem like they'd be in it too much for the attention. Yeah. Well, they are the two frontrunners from what we're hearing. behind the scenes right now. We're going to see how that happens. It means Dale Moss doesn't end up with anybody in from Paradise. Not shocked.

But it would be interesting if they do become the next bachelor. I would say I would be more interested in somebody that we don't know from the franchise. Well, no, I think we needed to be somebody we really know. Now, Jason makes a lot of sense to me, and a lot of women are going to want it to be Jason. And do I think that he could carry the show? absolutely sure I can't really even think of somebody else

that is single and so prevalent as such a prevalent alum can you can we throw out a name no I can't Heather producer Heather is there anyone else that is up to par with I think it's going to be Jason I'll put my money on now I think Jason Tardick

will be our next bachelor we didn't have a bachelorette season so they're not going to choose from a bachelorette season Jen's cast was full of. We obviously are not picking from Jen's cast. We would be going back in time to pick one. They are apparently actively casting right now, but I do think it would be a mistake if they picked someone random.

Yeah, I agree. Really? No, look what they did. They picked someone random for Golden Bachelor, and that leads us into our next headline. Yeah, Jesse Palmer gives updates. If you haven't heard, Mel Owens came on a podcast and said, some things that people didn't enjoy. The headline is this.

Jesse Palmer gives updates on The Bachelor franchise season 30 Golden Star, Mel Owens. Yeah, he said, I've seen the headlines, obviously, because I'm on social media. I have not heard the podcast. The podcast came out in early June. So we haven't started filming Golden yet, haven't spent a lot of time with Mel. The short amount of time that I have spent with him, he seems like a good guy. But I know we're going to get to spend a lot of time. a lot of more time with him pretty soon.

And I'm sure that's something we're going to talk about. So that last sentence there. But I know I'm going to get to spend a lot more time with him pretty soon. And those headlines are something we're going to talk about. So if you guys aren't aware early June, he did a random podcast. It wasn't a podcast in which I know the name of. But he said on it that he wants women from the ages of 45 to 60. and that anybody above the age of 60 would be getting cut early.

Was he not informed that per the past two golden seasons, the casting starts at age 60. There are no 50-somethings unless you're Kelsey's dad, which they made a little bit of an exception for. He was 58. It's not starting out well. I'll say this. My money is on Mel Owens never becoming our golden bachelor at this point. as I think he shouldn't be. I think they,

I think Jesse was being really PC. He probably didn't really know what was going on at the time of this interview. But like, if they make this guy the Golden Bachelor after this comment, there's really no coming back from this comment. Yeah, I would say I actually would have appreciated if Jesse would have stood up for the Golden show a little bit more during this comment and said,

no, sorry, he's out. This show is about the Golden's finding love. And it's not about who, is the most attractive or who is the youngest or the best shape or whatever that's exactly what the show isn't about this show is about love stories and it's about people as they get into this season of life finding love again or finding love for the first time and as and he's out we're done i would have loved that because i think if they continue with it it's going to discredit the whole idea of what this show is created to be anyways my opinion strong opinion i'll put my stake in the ground right now and be willing to change

If I meet what Mel owns, I'm like, oh, no, you can't do anybody other than this guy. But I think you should be out. I believe that they were supposed to start filming within the July timeline. Yep, I think that that's what they're stressed about. He also, need to mention, said, I would like no fake hips and no wigs. Lots of fans are putting his picture next to Jonathan, you know, handsome Jonathan from Jones season. because when he was in the reunion show, he had announced that he had a new girlfriend.

He and the girlfriend have now split, so he is single. Bring him in. Bring him in. Big update here, switching gears a little bit, to Katie Thurston. We've talked a lot about the Katie Thurston story and her getting diagnosed with breast cancer. We've had her on the show to talk about this diagnosis. And it's been kind of quiet.

But Katie Thurston shares that breast cancer, tumors are shrinking in new post. Yeah, we're so excited. We're so, so happy. The reason that Katie hasn't really been giving updates is, well, she's been giving updates on her booby broadcast on Instagram all the time. But, like, headline-wise, it's because she's been doing treatment, but she hasn't known yet whether or not the treatment was working.

And she got her three-month scan this week, and we are so excited to, again, say that her tumors are shrinking, even the one that was on her live. it can barely be detected in the scan now. So that is absolutely fantastic news. We're so happy she wrote that this is amazing news. I'm so relieved. People don't realize as it stands right now, I'll be on a treatment plan for life.

There isn't a cure for breast cancer, you know, at stage four. But as long as funding for medical research continues, especially for met survivors, I'm assuming that means metastasized. survivors, then there's a chance at continuing a long, healthy life. Yay. 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 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. Hello, it's Daniel Fischel.

Writer Strong. And Will Ferdell from PodMeets World. And we're bringing you Viva Las Content. That's right. We are back in Las Vegas, the city of sin, and giving the people what they want. A full week of Y2K content. Wait, we're back in Vegas?

Tell me why. Well, for the Backstreet Boys residency at Sphere, of course. We sat down with Kevin Richardson and A.J. McLean just minutes before they took the stage and our very own Wilfredel basically became the newest member of the band. Boy band, please. Plus, the man who has the longest running comedy show on the strip joins us and gets his props. It's carrot top, baby. And finally, we all L-O-V-E-Hur, Ashley Simpson-Ross joins us to talk about her upcoming sold-out Vegas residency. It's a full week of nostalgic interviews you don't want to miss. Listen to PodMeets World on the

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Ed. Everyone say, hello, Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself. My dad is a farmer, and my mom is a cousin, so, like, it's not, like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different.

Onstage stood a comedian with a story that. that no one expected to hear. The 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get

when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 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 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, high-term,

highly 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.

Three more headlines for you all that we're going to kind of run through, but the first one is one that we want to spend a little time on and say congratulations. Peter Cross, he just came on our show a few weeks ago, kind of dropped the bomb that within the next year this would happen. but Peter Krauss is engaged to his girlfriend, Hannah, after one year of dating. We are also so thrilled about this. The pictures, stunning, stunning, big American flag in the background, sunset, on a lake out in Wisconsin where he lives and she now lives. He told us on the podcast a couple months ago, yes, that the engagement would be coming. I don't think that it's a surprise that it came this soon. He basically seemed like he had the ring in his pocket at the time that he was talking to us.

So happy for them. You should definitely go check out these pictures. They are stunning. They are. And this isn't a shock to our show because he did drop it. So go back and listen to it. You get a good sense of the love that they share. Claire Crawley details husband Ryan's scary bike accident and reveals how he's doing.

So he got in this accident. She was in the emergency room with him and said not on our weekend bucket list, but here we are. He was out cycling and on his way up to meet us somewhere. He was about two minutes away and an SUV side swiped him and he was going fast and he crashed his bike. And these guys didn't even go stop and help him. They just kept driving along. That is nuts. She showed a picture of a broken headphone that he was wearing at the time.

and said bless helmets this could have been so much worse he's now home and okay thank god but we're going to be hurting and like he's going to be hurting for a bit his ribs are a little bit jacked up he's got road rash but so grateful that it wasn't worse very grateful uh final headlines is this uh there's rumors buzzing around it isn't confirmed by any means but there are rumors going around that Gabby Wendy might be hosting Alex Cooper's from Call Her Daddy's new dating show she's producing and the speculation comes from a friend of ours. Yes. Zachary Reality says that this new show that they're filming, I believe they started filming

last month on for Hulu, is a unique dating show. The working title is called Overboard for Love. and I know that there are some of our friends that are working on this show. Ben, our friends are working on the show, not just reporting on the show. And it would make sense for them to cast Gabby, who they worked with alongside on Bachelorette. Now, the reason that people are putting two and two together here is that the show was recently filmed on a yacht in Malta. and where has Gabby recently been? Seems like she might be in Malta.

Yes. So that seems, I would say, this makes a lot of sense. This theory. I wouldn't be shocked. It's good fit. No, it's also about singles, mixing. There's a twist where they're like,

have to play a game. So it's kind of like Bachelor and gameplay from Traders together. Let's see if we're the breaking news. No, the second news source to make this happen. I'll say right now, If she is the host, I want almost famous to also get some type of credit for breaking this news along with Zachary reality because we're friends. I guess my question would be the, if it's Alex Cooper's show, why isn't Alex Cooper just hosting it, though, right?

So would Gabby just be like a side host? I don't think Alex Cooper is doing much hosting. I think she is simply producing this show. Oh, okay. It is going underneath her brand. that continues to be huge. Hey, this is the Almost Famous podcast. We're happy to be talking to you day.

That's the headlines we have. Congratulations once again to Peter Krause. Also to Katie Thurston on the recent news. There's obviously some big headlines coming your way. They never stop. We'll be back next week breaking down more headlines. But until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley.

Love you. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts on IHart Radio, or subscribe. wherever you listen to podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom.

If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psycho babble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercoms the podcast for you. Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search emergency intercom and listen now.

I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story. Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack, available now.

Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio. app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you. And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology

of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me, new episodes every Wednesday on Exactly Right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Hi, it's Honey German And I'm back with season two of my podcast Grazias, come again.

We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah.

We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of cheesement and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great Vibras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dacias Come Again on the IHeartRadio 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, 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. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya.

Get in here! Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.