The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The Jonas Hall Pass with Mari Pepin

Episode Date: September 27, 2025

Ashley is heading to the Jonas Brothers concert with fellow Jonas-obsessed pal Mari Pepin!Mari shares her honest reaction to the latest season of Bachelor in Paradise and has some advice for other couples who made it off the beach.Plus, find out which Jonas Brother Mari could see as The Bachelor!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. I'm Jorge Ramos. And I'm Paola Ramos. Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians, artists, and activists

to bring you death and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. The moment is a space for the conversations we've been having us, father and daughter, for years. Listen to The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi there, this is Josh Clark from the Stuff You Should Know podcast. If you've been thinking,

man alive, I could go for some good true crime podcast episodes, then have we got good news for you. Stuff You Should Know just released a playlist of 12 of our best true crime episodes of all time. There's a shootout in broad daylight. People using axes in really terrible ways, disappearances, legendary heists, the whole nine yards. So check out the Stuff You Should Know true crime playlist on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jay Chetty, and I'm the host of the on-purpose podcast. Today, I'm joined by Emma Watson. Emma Watson has apparently quit acting. Emma Watson has announced she's retiring from acting. Has anyone else noticed that we haven't seen Emma Watson in anything in several

years? Emma Watson is opening up the truth behind her five-year break from acting. Watson said She wasn't very happy. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Do you want to hear the secrets of psychopaths, murderers, sex offenders? In this episode, I offer tips from them. I'm Dr. Leslie, forensic psychologist. This is a podcast where I cut through the noise with real talk. When you were described to me as a forensic psychologist, I was like snooze.

We ended up talking for hours, and I was like, this girl is my best friend. Let's talk about safety and strategies to protect yourself and your loved ones. Listen to intentionally disturbing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's important that we just reassure people that they're not alone and there is help out there. The Good Stuff podcast, season two, takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of One Tribe's mission. One Tribe, Save My Live twice.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Good Stuff. Listen to the Good Stuff podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcast with IHart Radio. Hey guys, welcome back to the Almost Famous Podcast. Today, I am in San Francisco with a whole bunch of the IHeart team. And right now, see you next to me on the couch, in preparation for the Jonas concert tonight is Mari Pepin. Hey, Mari, welcome to the show. Hi, Ashley.

Thanks for having me. Oh, my gosh. Thank you. When I found out that we were going to a Jonas concert as one of our I heart events, I was like, we have to have Mari here because this girl does everything Jonas that I do. Yes. You went to Jonas Khan. I did.

And I was so upset that I couldn't make it to Jonas Con. We had already had a planned trip to Disney World that week. Oh, no. And I was canceled. It was with Jade and Tanner. Like, we had like the whole thing planned. Oh, man. And then I was like, you guys gave us five weeks to repair for something called Jonas Con at the mall.

Like, what is the mall called? Mall of, American Dream. American Dream. Have you been to American Dream Houston? Oh, yes, right. It's huge. American Dream is amazing when they built it and they were in the building process for like 25 years.

Because as a Giants fan, you would drive by the makings of American Dream whenever you go to MetLife. And even back when it was Giant Stadium. And then I went to that mall for the first. time to do a Jonas thing. Of course. Because it's like now it's like they should just call it the Jonas mall. They should. They should buy it or something.

Whenever there's something Jonas related in Jersey, they're going to hold it there now. Yeah. It was huge. It was my first time ever being at that mall. But it was so much fun. And I hope they do it again. And you can go with me. I think definitely.

I think we will definitely be going again. And I just love your love for the Jonas brothers. And I'm glad that you're here with us today. Me too. We're going to do a group podcast later. We'll we talk a little bit more Jonas. But while it's just. you and me, what Jonah's questions are appropriate for me to ask here.

The limit does not exist. Probably doesn't. I'm like, if they were all single, all the brothers were single. Uh-oh. And I would never want Kevin to be single because Kevin and Danielle, they are forever together in my heart. They are so perfect. But if they were ever all single, which one would you want to be The Bachelor?

Oh, my God. No. Well, I'm going to say Joe because I can't go back on the show because I'm married. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, you're right. I can't be Nick. So it can't be Joe for me because I would, I'd be like, babe, like, am I allowed to go on the show? Kenny has given me a hall pass.

Yes. He's aware. So let's talk about this discussion because Jared and I, I present, I like have always said, you know, he's my hall pass, right? And then like, Joe's going through something right now that we're all seeing is like really an elevated Joe experience. Sure. So I really, this summer was trying to be like, babe, like, how serious are we about this hall pass? And I recorded his reaction and like the New York Post page six. I picked it up.

Are you serious? Yeah. It got like, it got like, um, it's like a million views on TikTok and Instagram. Wait, I have to do this to Kenny. Yeah. So TikTok and Instagram each has like over a million views. And I was like, oh my gosh. I didn't need it to get this most attention.

I do, I do want every real that I post to do well. but maybe not that. At this point, Joe has had to have seen it. Oh, he definitely has. Oh, my gosh. And people are in the comments being like, why hasn't Joe written under this? It's like, because he thinks I'm nuts, okay?

And because he's like, I'm not going to give you this whole pass. Well, I was going to say it's because probably you're married with children and he doesn't want to ruin his own image. Not trying exactly to make a headline being like Joe Jonah's comments under hall pass. Yeah. Real. Man, that's funny.

Anyway, so okay, back to the question. So both of us wouldn't want Joe or Nick to be the lead because that would pain us. Which leaves Kevin and I'm okay with that. And I have to say, I'd want it to be Kevin as well if they were single. Because let's just pretend like he never met Danielle because Kevin would be the most perfect lead ever. He would be so sweet and romantic. I know. It'd be such a good season.

And the girls would come out in droves for him too. Like, are you kidding? Yeah. Okay, great season. Wishful thinking. Yeah. And then, like, let's just talk about how you got into Jonas. Like, imagine, do you remember, like, the first day you discovered them?

I do, actually. I love this. So do I. I was in the sixth grade. And I remember I was in my bedroom. I had one of those, like, this is how much younger she is that me. Holy shit. Wait, what do you mean?

I was a sophomore in college. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I was in sixth grade in my bedroom. I had one of those, like, you know, when TVs used to be, like, giant cubes or whatever. I had a giant purple box. Same. I had one of those and I was like a Disney Channel kid, you know, and that was the first time, it was their music video. Um, and that was the first time I saw them and like fell in love with them instantly. And I was like, oh my gosh, who are these kids? And then, you know, all the magazines, J-14 and like, Bob and all those posters were

slowly but surely lining my walls. That's where it all began. And what made you a Nick girl? Ooh, I don't know. I just thought, I always thought he was the cutest one. And I always felt like any time I would see him either in like videos, because they did a lot of YouTube stuff too, which I was like obsessed with. Like the tables have turned. Oh, absolutely. Nick Jay is off the chain.

DJ Danger. This is really for like the hardcore fans. I know, if you know, you know. But I just always liked his demeanor. Like he, I don't know. So we're something kind of. Yes. yes a little mature and like kind of mysterious almost but like so funny too i don't know i just he yeah he did

it for me i love it yeah has never changed so then when did you tell kenny your husband who you met on bachelor paradise about this love and um have you ever had a serious conversation about a hall pass in general so you know what i don't think there ever was a conversation where i was like listen you're gonna have to accept that there are three other men in my life um it was kind of just you know, me being excited because they were touring more and my little brother, actually, the tour that happened, what, a couple years ago, two years ago, was like right after Kenny and I got together. And my little brother, he's 20, he just turned 26, had never been to a concert ever. Oh my gosh, at 26? I know. I know. And so he expressed his interest in going to a Jonas

Brothers concert and I was like, oh my God, yes, I'm going to take you to your first concert ever. And it's going to be the Jonas Brothers. Yes. And so we went and, you know, once you go to one show, you can't just only go to that show. You mean like for you personally on a tour? Yeah, when a tour list comes out, I'm like, which three are you going to? Yes, absolutely minimum. And so from there, it's kind of where I was like, okay, well, I'm going to go to more shows.

And I was like, Kenny, do you want to come? And he came to one of them with me. And then he was like, okay. Yeah, I saw those pictures are really cute. He had a great time. You loved it. Yeah, Jared likes them too. I take him to like one every few years.

Yeah. He doesn't need to come to all of them. No, no, it's our thing. Yeah. But I told him, I was like, okay, I think I'm going to go to a couple more shows because my brother lives in, like, a different state. So I had to, like, travel for the show. And he was okay with it.

And I was like, ooh, I can do more of this. And he's totally fine with it. So that's been the thing now is I will travel to see them. And it's fine, you know? Yeah. Get a little break from each other, which is great, too. I have always been a girl who flies to concert. Heck yeah.

As of, like, I don't know, as soon as I was, like, I don't know, like, as soon as I was like 20, my mom was like yeah let's not have a girls weekend we'll go do the concert show your mom is so supportive i was telling stories she's so down and i'm obsessed with it unfortunately like my mom wasn't able to afford you know getting tickets for me when i was little and like deep in the thick of the obsession yeah so now that i'm an adult and i have my own money yeah i'm like this is what i'm making up for last time absolutely i love that so much can no so jared and i kind of joke that like hall passes as like d minus list reality stars yeah um like they're they go a little bit further because like we have a little bit of access yeah right so does that like

Kenny is Kenny be like I'm not worried about you with if Priyanka wasn't in the picture yeah no um I you know I don't know how serious he is about it or not but I met Nick twice this summer and I posted the photos and he Kenny commented and was like oh did you cash in your hall pass ha ha ha and we haven't had an actual conversation about it though so I don't know if he was just being funny for Instagram or if he meant it because if the opportunity arose and like just a kiss is what I told jared that's fine i just want to make out that's okay i don't need to go any further than that but that's sad so it's in every way and then nick remembered you you said when you went to see his broadway show and then he said like you you saw him two days a couple days apart yeah he was like oh hi there again it's like

nice to see you yeah it's nice to see you rare so we'll see if we if he yeah tonight if it's nice to see you again I'm Jorge Ramos. And I'm Paola Ramos. Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time, as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians. I would be the first immigrant mayor in generations, but 40% of New Yorkers were born outside of this country. Artists and activists, I mean, do you ever feel demoralized? I might personally lose hope.

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Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi there, this is Josh Clark from the Stuff You Should Know podcast. If you've been thinking, man alive, I could go for some good true crime podcast episodes, then have we got good news for you. Stuff You Should Know just released a playlist of 12 of our best true crime episodes of all time. There's a shootout in broad daylight. People using axes in really terrible ways, disappearances, legendary heists, the whole nine yards. So check out the Stuff You Should Know true crime playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All I know is what I've been told, and that's a half-truth is a whole lie.

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I'm a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, producer, and I wouldn't be here if the truth were that easy to find. I did not know her and I did not kill her Or rape or burn or any of that other stuff that y'all said it They literally made me say that I took a match And struck and threw it on her They made me say that I poured gas on her From Lava for Good

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on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts Okay, let's get in to Bachelor stuff and not bore the non-Jonas fans out there. Did you watch Bachelor in Paradise this season? We did. We did. We watch every season. Yeah, you have to, right? I feel like it's a loyalty thing. I know. And it's like, you know, that's where we started. So it's like nice to see all the new people going through the process too.

Yeah. So what is your advice as a couple that came off of Bachelor in Paradise for the engaged couple, Jess and Spencer? Well, I think the biggest thing that helped in our success was just making sure that we were able to spend as much time as possible together because we were living in different states. And so until we were able to be public, actually, it was a lot of kind of sneaking, honestly, to go visit each other. But I think that kind of effort really made all the difference because there are other couples who aren't able to or don't want to put in that much effort and don't spend a lot of time together after the show, especially in that period when you have to. to be, like, quiet about what's going on.

And I feel like that's, like, really make or break. Yeah, I totally, I can't relate, but I agree. Because my story didn't unfold that way. Have you been watching Golden Bachelor, too? So we have up until we didn't watch the premiere this week. Okay. And that's fine, because we've been here. Yeah, it's fine. What did you guys think about Mel's comments that were just so infamous now?

You know, I saw, like, some videos where the girls were kind of giving him crap for. it. And I'm like, yes, get him. Like, that was so not cool. I think I would have felt very offended if I were someone who was supposed to be on his season and then he said that. I think so, too. The whole point. I don't want to go on anywhere. Yeah, I would have like backed out, I think, because the whole point of the show is, you know, finding love in your golden years. And you shouldn't be, in my opinion, so superficial to be like, it has to be about an age or a specific age. So, yeah, I did not like that. I was not a fan of that. I know. I'm like, we're just going to have to get past it. I know.

we will see i watched the premiere episode this morning and i think that the ladies are really pretty group yeah they're gorgeous yeah um but in mel i'm not sure if he's ever going to be like a standout lead to me and i think that he yeah no it's okay i don't we don't have any loyalty to him right now no we don't know him never met him yeah he's random we have no backstory on him really he was plucked from obscurity we can say what we want right now um and then your anniversary is coming up Two years. Do you guys do big anniversaries? We do. Well, so we actually hit two years back in June was when we did like legal and like the Paradise one. But the one that we, yeah, we celebrate the November one since that was when our families were able to be there. Is that what the Puerto Rico one? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You guys. Yeah. You got three. We did three. June and paradise. Four. If you count the courthouse. Oh my gosh. You did courthouse, then Paradise? Or was it vice versa? So vice versa. We did Paradise First. As soon as we got home, we went to the courthouse.

And actually, that happened over Zoom. Crazy enough. Wow. Yeah, we were inside the courthouse, but the judge was like in a separate area. And we like video conference with her. This is because it was back COVID. It was. No, I think Chicago's restrictions were lifted like kind of late. Like it wasn't that COVID anymore, but they still had them in place. I don't know. It was weird. But as soon as we got back from Paradise, we did that. We actually tried to have Chris Harrison, or not Chris Harrison. What am I saying?

You had Chris Harrison on your mind, James season. We tried to have Jesse. Yeah. Yeah. We tried to have Jesse actually officially on like the certificates and stuff and try and like FedEx it back overnight. But he was traveling so like it didn't work out. So we went to the courthouse, did the Zoom wedding.

And then we had our November wedding, which is the one where our families came to Puerto Rico, which was amazing, November 11th. And then we had like an after party kind of celebration in March in Chicago where that was like a whole bunch of people, like friends and family and more so like acquaintances and stuff like that. So what's the day that you like go and do the anniversary dinner? I would personally, I think from that list probably pick the, the Paradise one or the courthouse.

Yeah, June. So it was June 26th, which is the same date that we got engaged on Paradise. Oh, that's the day then. Yeah. Okay. So that we'll, yeah, we'll do like a little dinner that day. But like we like to do trips for the November anniversary. So we're actually going to Portugal in November.

Oh, nice. Yeah. So you're excited. No, it would be my first time. Okay, nice. And then this is something that Jared and I, we kind of argue about this. He is Mr. like, we celebrate our one wedding day anniversary. Okay.

And I'm like, Jared, I think I'm really big in the. the day we met anniversary. Like that like almost to me is like the more life-changing day. So every like week, every week that week in June, like this is like the night before I met you in paradise. And this was what I was doing on that day. I love it. Yeah.

It's just because it's crazy because like for us you can just like you like that that pinpoint moment. Yeah. Because it was like you were there to meet your spouse and then you met your spouse. So sentimental. Isn't that so crazy? Why aren't the guys like that? I don't know.

If Kenny were here, I'd wrap up this interview by asking him about this news that broke about in sync today because he's Mr. Boyd Band manager. What is it? Don't tell me. What is it? Us Weekly was reporting that they like had plans to do a stadium tour. What? And then Justin's Lyme disease diagnosis has now put it on delay. No way.

Yes. I had not seen this yet. Yep. That was the name. that's crazy. Oh no. It's been quite the day for Ashley Bands. Yeah. What is going on? I feel like Kenny would be invested in that because he does truly love. He really does love the boy bands. Oh yeah. I'm going to text him right now and be like, did you see this? Or did you hear about this. You guys didn't go to the back to the backyard where his show? We didn't. You know what? Actually, some of the members of his local boy band did go. And we almost went, but the days conflicted with like the dates that they were already planning. So no, we didn't go.

You're going to have to go to the winter shows because it is the greatest. experience, you'll ever really have, like, it's just out of this world. Well, Kenny, well, Kenny, ha! Well, Mar, I thank you so much for joining us and for being here to just be, like, my, my Jonas date today. I know, I'm so excited. I need to experience it with somebody who loves them as much as me. That's, like, my thing is, like, I have friends who casually listen or who, like,

are, you know, kind of fans, but, like, you and I are, like, on the same level with this. I know. And I never get to experience concerts that way. So I am so excited. You have no idea. Same, same. Oh, what's your favorite song from the new album? Ooh.

Oh, gosh. If you had to pick two. Pick two. Ugh. This is hard. I'll give you mine first. Okay. Tables and bully.

Oh. She does not agree. I don't like tables. You don't like tables? No. I do like bully, though. Really? Bully's a good one.

And then I'm blinking on the name of it. Pull it up. What is the one that I absolutely love and have been on repeat? And they haven't played it on the tour at all yet. Yeah. I actually wish that they're playing some more new songs than they have. I know. I thought that they weren't.

Same. I was like, what is the point of releasing a new album and then not? And singing two songs from it? Yeah. It's kind of strange. They're not even singing greetings from your hometown, which is like the name of the tour. It's kind of weird. Tantrum.

Tantrum. Obsessed with Tantrum. I love tantrum so much. I was going to say that was my third one. Yeah. they I mean they de-request though so maybe we need to bring a poster should we do a little sign thing I mean that is how like the interaction has been happening that I'm going to hold up the I'll sign an NDA thing on my phone oh my god that's amazing no I did I did not hear this idea I'm down

let's do it okay all right we will report back on the almost famous podcast that I record next with Ben after the show tell him if anything exciting happened yeah all right see yeah bye Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts on IHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Jorge Ramos. And I'm Paola Ramos. Together we're launching The Moment, a new podcast about what it means to live through a time as uncertain as this one. We sit down with politicians, artists, and activists to bring you death and analysis from a unique Latino perspective. The moment is a space for the conversations we've been having us, father and daughter, for years.

Listen to The Moment with Jorge. Ramos and Paola Ramos, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi there, this is Josh Clark from the Stuff You Should Know podcast. If you've been thinking, man alive, I could go for some good true crime podcast episodes, then if we got good news for you, stuff you should know just released a playlist of 12 of our best true crime episodes of all time. There's a shootout in broad daylight, people using axes in really terrible ways, disappearances, legendary heists, the whole nine yards.

So check out the stuff you should know True Crime playlist on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, and I'm the host of the on-purpose podcast. Today, I'm joined by Emma Watson. Emma Watson has apparently quit acting. Emma Watson has announced she's retiring from acting. Has anyone else noticed that we haven't seen Emma Watson in anything in several years?

Emma Watson is opening up the truth behind her five-year break from acting. Watson said she wasn't very happy. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Do you want to hear the secrets of psychopaths, murderers, sex offenders? In this episode, I offer tips from them. I'm Dr. Leslie, forensic psychologist. This is a podcast where I cut through the noise with real talk. When you were described to me as a forensic psychologist, I was like snooze.

We ended up talking for hours, and I was like, this girl is my best friend. Let's talk about safety and strategies to protect yourself. and your loved ones. Listen to intentionally disturbing on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In early 1988, federal agents raced to track down the gang they suspect of importing millions of dollars worth of heroin into New York from Asia.

Had 30 agents ready to go with shotguns and rifles and you name it. Five, six white people pushed me in the car. I'm going, what about that? Basically, your stay-at-home moms were picking up these laws. much amounts of heroin. All you got to do is receive the package. Don't have to open it, just accept it. She was very upset, crying. Once I saw the gun, I tried to take his hand, and I saw the flash of light. Listen to the Chinatown Sting on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.