The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The Most Dramatic Q&A Ever

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

Ben and Ashley are answering YOUR questions and nothing is off limits! Find out if Ben would let Winnie watch his season, and if Jared and Ashley will ever do a rewatch of Paradise with their sons.Have they ever had a “bad” experience with a celebrity?? And what does casting actuallyscreen for when booking reality tv??Plus, what is the Fantasy Suite REALLY like?? We get the answer!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankawali. And I'm Hurricane Dabolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast, 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? Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the I-heart rate.

radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on? Biggie. You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable? Because I want to get confident. This is DJ Hester Prins, Music is Therapy. A new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of your life.

Money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prins, Music is Therapy. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 Harden-Brandford, 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. Babes, what are you doing? What? I'm just mowing the lawn. No, it's blazing hot and dry out here. Don't you remember? Smokey Bear says, Avoid using power equipment when it's windy or dry. Where'd you learn this?

Oh, it's on... Smoky Bear. with many other wildfire prevention tips. Right. Thanks, honey, bear. Because remember, only you can prevent wildfires. Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service,

your state forester, and the ad council. The show was ahead of its time to represent a black family in ways the television hadn't shown before. Exactly. It's Telma Hopkins, also known as Aunt Rachel. And I'm Kelly Williams or Laura Winslow. On our podcast, welcome to the family with Telma and Kelly. We're

re-watching every episode of Family matters we'll share behind the scene stories about making the show yeah we'll even bring in some special guests to spill some tea listen to welcome to the family with telma and kelly on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts this is the ben and ashley i almost famous podcast with i heart radio it's the almost sales podcast it's ashley and ben back with you and we're going to do a listener q and a i'm going to start this question with for ben ben do you want your next child to be a girl or a boy such a good question i have the answer for you i really kind of just want girls like i just want your next to be a girl too i really have a thing

about girls having sisters and i love girls having sisters close in age so i i would i would oh you want to answer this for me yeah i did no i did that was not my intention but now the sort of it yes i have an opinion is what i'm saying i mean there's a there's such a huge side of me that wants a boy, obviously, like, to rough house and to do all those things with. But after experiencing Winnie, I really just like, I don't know, I love the process of having a little girl in my life and snuggling her and, I don't know, getting her gifts that are like right now very princess themed. I don't know.

It's been really fun for me to have a girl. I didn't know. And so it's hard for me to think about having a boy, but I would say if I get to choose, I'd be totally fine being a complete girl dad, like straight through. That's so sweet, Ben. I love that. I see you with all girls. Like I've said before, very Danny Tanner vibes.

I could, like, see you with three girls. It's like the greatest compliment, right? He's so unsexy. No, no, no, no. He is very unsexy. You're so right. But he radiates so much warmth in like goodness. Okay.

Comfort. Yeah. So much comfort. So as do you, did you watch Warby's World, too, as a kid? Oh, yeah. So between Danny Tanner and then Alan, the boy, you know, the dad for Boy Meets World, I love Alan too. I can't really pick which one.

They give such different vibes, but they're both equally wonderful. Yeah. I've always seen myself as more of a Mr. Feeney, but, um. I can see you as Mr. Feeney too, as you just love the older crowd. I'm all about it. love to giving wisdom. That was from Renee Chang. The next question is for me as well, I guess.

So Ashley, take it away. Okay, Ben. Has anyone ever told you like Adam Brody? You're like the Christian version of the real life, Seth Cohen. That's so funny. Okay, so Adam Brody always, well, not always, but has notoriously played two Jewish characters. He is. And he plays into that role so well.

I just don't think you really look like Adam Brody I've never got I mean I've never really gotten Adam Brody I used to get I don't get a lot of celebrity lookalites I've gotten Jim Carrey But I would never ever think so

I don't think so either But then I got the guy Oh From the Brady Bunch A bunch Yes see that's who you do Look like you look like Peter Brady I've always thought you look like

Peter Brady. You've always thought that. I've also back in the day, and I do see this when I was in high school, he was in like some of the vampire shows. He was a huge deal back in the day. The guy from Vampire Diaries, not the, not the Ian Summerholder, but the other one. Who I'm sure Heather knows. Who is it? Let me look. No, this isn't a him. Not Paul Wesley. No, not Paul Wesley. Okay. No, this dude is like, I'm saying, I'm thinking Prince, but that's, oh, Freddie Prince Jr. Oh, okay, okay. I can see Freddy Prince Jr. Yeah. I used to get that a lot when high school. And actually, if you look at my high school pictures, you're like, yeah, it's kind of similar. And he was kind of big back then. And it makes sense. But also not a vampire. Scooby-Doo related. Oh, yeah. I was wrong on all fronts there. Oh, my God. So funny. Tasha from Alabama asks, have either of you been mistaken?

for another celebrity while out. So, related question, but I've never been mistaken for a celebrity, no. You know what Jared does? That makes me feel so awkward. I know why he does it. I know why he does it. It's very humble and sweet.

But he'll be in the middle of the country and somebody will say like, hey, do we go to school together? How do I know you? You look so familiar. And then Jared will be like, I went to Warwick vets in Warwick, Rhode Island, and he's like, have you ever been lived in Rhode Island? Like, he legitimately will go through his entire, like, high school career.

Like, you know, his entire, I don't know what you would call, like, the list of places that he's lived before saying, like, maybe you've watched The Bachelor. And I'm standing there just, like, cringing when this person's trying to figure out, like, how in the world he knows, he or she knows, Jared. So that is funny and sweet and humble. but at the same time, cringler on my behalf. How do you respond to that

if somebody comes up to you? I usually go, do you happen to watch The Bachelor? Oh. So then there's a one time and this is a real ha-ha to me is that somebody came up to us

and they did, Jared did the whole spiel and I was like, Jared, do you watch the Bachelor? And then the person goes, no. that's so good and I'm like okay okay never mind you just have that famous face Jerry but yeah I respond the same way Jared does I've never known how to risk because it happens a lot

where people are like what do I know you from and I'm like I have no idea what you know me from because I really don't I have no idea what you know me from do you like coffee do you listen to almost famous podcast we'll get there somehow but it takes a while Anna from Texas asks, when your kids are old enough, will you let them watch any of the shows you've been on? Why or why not? How do I, do I watch when the kids are old enough? Yeah, they're going to see clips. That'll be fun. I don't understand why this is always such a controversial question. Because it's like, yeah, of course. I don't think it's like that spicy. We're not on Love Island. Yeah. And like, I know your kids, Ben, aren't going to see you making out with other women and like we're not going to show our kids the same.

but like our first date sure oh okay so you're saying with you and Jared together yeah that would be weird yeah you have that gone for you yeah I was gonna say like with boys there's probably less of an interest and like watching the entire seat

like maybe there would be maybe there would be I guess yeah it would be weird if when he was like dad I'd like to watch your entire season but perhaps she could watch Caitlin season and that would be fun yeah parts of parts of it I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, I think winter games would be a safe bet for me.

Not here. But I don't know if anything else. Did you know Bachelor Happy Hour is watching, re-watching Winter Games right now? Oh, really? No, it didn't. That's hilarious. Yeah. I got to go back in and listen to some of their episodes to see what they're saying. I mean, that, goodness gracious, I can't wait until they get to the scene where I'm just bawling. you're just absolutely just man tears just so conflicted in life Ashley I'll do this one and you can do the rest Maria loves I Can Dream Center asks what do you like about your podcast well I like that I get to hang out and talk to

Ben every week it's very it's very simple it's just when I go through my best friends I was just like oh well then there's Ben because I mean I can't even imagine not having this platform to be able to talk to you multiple times a week because we're just chatting and having a great time every time. I would 100% agree. I think Jess asked me the, I kind of did a year in review and she goes, okay, what's going on in your life? And I was like, okay, I love this podcast because I do think our dynamic is, it was either brilliant when it was started or it was just the luck of the draw. But because we come in from two separate perspectives, but yet share very common values and worldviews, I think it brings an element of you're going to get

every angle, but neither of us desire to have this podcast as a place that hurts people, but we do want to be honest with, you know, how we feel when we watch some of this stuff. I love that element to get to talk to you and kind of the dynamic. I love getting to talk to you. I also think what I love about podcasting is it gives us a medium to ask very intentional questions very quickly to guests that like I don't get to ask in my regular life to people. I can't just sit somebody down who I've never met and be like, okay, so you just had a breakup. Where's your heart at today? That's not something I get into very often. So true. I do love that. We were able to ask really juicy questions with not much

small talk beforehand. No, no. This is just like a rapid fire. You can. You got 45 minutes. Let's try to make you cry. I like that part. That's so true. And you know what? I think for both of us, it's kept us involved in the franchise during a season where the franchise hasn't necessarily been reaching out. Yeah.

But it keeps us involved enough that I feel like, hey, you know, I'm at least still intrigued by what is happening on this show that I was a part of for so long. So that's fun. Without the podcast, I don't know how I'd feel or how much involvement I would actually have with the franchise. That's true. And I like keeping those relationships close to just because it means so much to me in my life. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankowali. 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 to 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 world. ways to keep your body and 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.

I'm Ed Zittron of the Better Offline Podcast, and I want you to join me at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting January 6th through January 10th, We're doing 10 radio-style podcast episodes about the world's biggest tech conference, and we're going to dig into the latest and weirdest gadgets, gizmos and horrible AI gear that the tech industry is desperate to sell you, all while covering the biggest stories in Silicon Valley as the AI bubble threatens the burst. I'll be joined by David Roth, Chloe Radcliffe, Adam Conover, Corey Doctor-O, Edongueso, Robert Evans, and an incredible cast of the greatest talent in the tech media, with over 18 hours of interviews, commentary and bizarre stories, all told from

the Better Offline pop-up studio connected to its own open bar. Today, I did five hours of back-to-back panels on artificial intelligence. It included a number of great moments, including an entire room full of people, laughing about people losing their jobs due to artificial intelligence. Will we make it out alive? There's only one way to find out. Tune in starting January 6th through January 10th, 2026, and listen to the literal best tech podcast ever recorded. Listen to Better Offline on the IHot Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you happen to get your podcasts.

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on? Biggie. You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable? Because I want to get confident. This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question, who do you want to be, and what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do, right?

That moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year, I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatsky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who sheet my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies.

I'll pair them with the right records and will teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prins Music is Therapy on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets. We were in the car, like a Rolling Stone came on, and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't feel like I was being accepted is choose an identity that other people can't have. I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened. These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets. Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Rihanna Dillon to discuss Audibles's 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 listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and Audible, iHeart audio book club on the iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts all right ben have you ever had a rude celebrity encounter this is from katie from washington oh i know you have ellen degenerous oh ellen i thought you were going to say killer rippa oh yeah that one wasn't

like exactly like heartwarming. They're kind of back to back too. I think I did them like in the same week during press. I mean, I know, you know, you don't want to like continue to beat it up. I know Ellen, you know, got some bad rap. And there's a little bit of, and I'm not just trying to be an apologist here. There's a little, there's an element inside of me that's like, okay, one of the nicest people I've ever met is Steve Harvey. However, on set, Steve Harvey doesn't talk to you.

And there's a reason for that, right? He's very busy. he's got a thousand things going on he's going back then from his talk show to family feud to doing like some appearance somewhere and doing his own interviews so there's boundaries that these people set up in their lives to say hey I'm not going to be talking outside of the show that I'm filming and then once the show's done I'm going back to my dressing room I'm not going to talk to again that's fair the two other encounters that I had that you just brought up and that I spoke of they felt more like hey I am not welcomed in this space and

and they're only doing this because some Booker said they had to. And that isn't a great feeling, especially when you're not necessarily this celebrity and you're just trying, you're an awe of the things that you're doing. And then you walk and you're like, I'm not welcomed here. That doesn't feel great.

Hmm. Hmm. Okay. So, but still, all that being said, those two. Those two stand out. I mean, I'm sure at some of the other events, like maybe people have like kind of like not paid much attention. But most of the time, I'm like, people have been very kind, and I've had some great

conversations with people that I've looked up to my whole life. And I remember I have pictures in my phone from Samuel L. Jackson and I standing together. And I remember having a great conversation with him. And even Jimmy Kimmel and I, he pulled me up to his dressing room when we talked for 20 minutes, even before the show started, just about life. Like, those are cool moments. Those are cool moments. I can't say that I have ever had a really bad one either. I think actually It's funny that you say Samuel Jackson because I think he did say something sassy to me, but this was before Bachelor. My sister, my friend and I used to stock out, like, the correspondence dinner in D.C., and we would get pictures of a whole bunch of celebrities when they were coming out of the dining room. And he, I remember him saying, like, I was asking him for a picture or something.

And he was like, no, something like that. I don't know. So I don't even want to really call him out for it. Michael Strahan was particularly kind just in the regard I've met so many celebrities I mean not to like I'm not like I have so many people in my phone but in the capacity that you were just discussing

like backstage at a talk show he also like gave me time backstage just to chat and like face him a friend which was really special yeah it's always fun so I would say for the majority of my experiences they've been nothing but positive there's just a few that still

out to me. And you also have to understand Katie from Washington that I am a very sensitive human. And so I feel deeply. And so when I don't feel like I belong, I might be over-dramatizing some of this. I don't have any like stuff that pops up my head that's like, yes, this one. I only met Ellen on stage. And I'm really glad I only met her on stage because it was great. Yeah, super nice. It's like, whoa, what happened? Okay, at Melanie Camp House asks three questions. The first one is this. Do they prescreen to make sure contestants have the same religious and political beliefs?

No, absolutely not. I mean, as far as I'm aware, and usually it's not a discussion that's had until I would say fantasy suites, but I can't say that I had either of those discussions on fantasy suites. We have what you might not know is producer Heather has a background in Kassie. Heather, you've casted so many incredible shows. Do they pre-screen for political and religious beliefs? So I've done specifically so many dating shows, and I can say religion is definitely asked, especially if it's a prominent thing in somebody's life.

Is it a factor in how they match people? No, not necessarily. Unless somebody is like a lead is extremely specific about like, I will not. not, you know, date, buddy, that's an atheist, then probably going to eliminate atheists from the list, you know what I mean? Politics, absolutely not. I've worked on so many shows, even after high political election years. And that is not something that is ever asked, like ever.

You can usually deduce sometimes from somebody's social media where they fall, but it is not a pre-screen question. I did an interview recently with the Huffington Post. and, you know, they're trying to talk me about the current political landscape and if I had interest ever again in running for politics. And we went through this hour long interview. It never got posted, which is kind of sad, I think. It also speaks to, kind of speaks to the climate that we're in. But we get done with an interview and she's like, you might be the only, like, moderate right down the middle person I've actually ever met. Like, you actually are right down the

middle. So I do feel like politics would be hard, Heather, to cast for, because I think there's so much of America right now that just really, like, sinners. And so, like, you can't really pull much out of them. I agree. And I think that a lot of people will say, right, that you can have loving and substantial relationships with people that do not agree with you politically. We do not have to be with somebody who is exactly the same. Now, when it comes to faith-based, that can be a little bit more of a deciding factor, which is why it is asked on a lot of shows.

And usually it's asked in the pre-screen in the applications that you guys fill out to be on shows. And then dependent on the show, you know, the context of the show, it can be brought up more. Yeah, yeah, interesting. I mean, my faith is obviously something, that would be very tough for me to find a romantic connection with anybody outside of my faith politically, if anything, I just love the conversations that politics can bring about. And so I love

different sides. Like, my ideal world is hosting a show where everybody's like discussing and arguing and sharing why they believe what they believe without really like any type of outcome, but that just isn't ever going to be listened to because people want. Of course. Isn't that the view? Of course. I wouldn't say that's the view. It could be Bill Maher.

Yeah, I think the view might have. It sounds more like Bill Maher. Yeah, the view might not be sitting in that seat any, you know, as much as we used to think they were. All righty. Are we going to go to her second question, which is do you get a copy of the whole season or do you have to set your DVR? You have to set your DVR, your Hulu or whatever. And you never get a copy of your season. which is kind of a bummer because it says on your DVR, right?

And then eventually you'll change DVRs like because now I don't have this, you know, it was on Tivo back when we were on the show. And now we don't have Tivo. Poor Tivo. Yeah, Tivo probably got bought for billions. They're fine. Definitely. So we don't have like, I know that Apple has my entire season.

So if I ever want to go back and watch episodes, I know that they have like the whole collection. I don't get it. I didn't get a copy. I had a link in my email that they used to send me and I could watch it. I think it's like a total of three times and then it kind of like disappears. And that's, I'd have to go back and find it just like anybody else would now. As lead, were you able to watch your episode before the show aired though? Sometimes, unless they didn't want me to. Okay. So normally Cass doesn't get to watch before their episode airs. Most of the weeks I did. There's, I think, two episodes that they're like. like, oh, we're having editing issues. I'm like, no, you're not. It's two days before this thing goes live on national television. They're like, oh, we just can't get it to either. Yeah.

Yeah. Usually the producer will call you and give you a brief rundown of what you should be worried about or what you will enjoy in the upcoming episode. And I hear that with Housewives, I get my episode before it airs, which is nice, but also nerve-wracking. It's kind of, you know, because then you're going to want to control it. And you're like, wait. But once it's already out.

out there, you can't do anything about it. I had some pretty contentious conversations after watching some of these more dramatic episodes during my season with the producers where I was like, oh, no, I tried to control everything. Not really my place. How much time really elapses

at hometown dates, especially the portion with the family? I don't know. That's up to you to answer. You're there all day. You are. Like 11 to 8, maybe, 11 to 9. It's a long day with the families and kind of navigating the interviews and the different conversations, and then maybe you'd sit down for dinner, those were, and they were really fun days.

I, for the most part, I really enjoyed those because it felt more real, and you're in somebody's home, which is always kind of special. So that's a long day. 11 to 8, I think would be a great, like, estimate on how each of them much time each of them took. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankowali. 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. I'm Ed Zittron of the Better Offline Podcast, and I want you to join me at this year's Consumer electronic show in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting January 6th through January 10th, 2026.

We're doing 10 radio-style podcast episodes about the world's biggest tech conference, and we're going to dig into the latest and weirdest gadgets, gizmos and horrible AI gear that the tech industry is desperate to sell you, all while covering the biggest stories in Silicon Valley as the AI bubble threatens to burst. I'll be joined by David Roth, Chloe Radcliffe, Adam Conover, Corey Doctoro, Edon Gweso, Jr., Robert Evans, and an incredible cast of the greatest talent in the tech media. with over 18 hours of interviews, commentary and bizarre stories, all told from the Better Offline pop-up studio connected to its own open bar. Today, I did five hours of back-to-back panels on artificial intelligence.

It included a number of great moments, including an entire room full of people, laughing about people losing their jobs due to artificial intelligence. Will we make it out alive? There's only one way to find out. Tune in starting January 6th through January 10th, 2026, and listen to the literal best tech podcast ever recorded. Listen to Better Offline on the IHot Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you happen to get your podcasts.

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on? Biggie. You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable? Because I want to get confident. This is DJ Hester Prins, music is therapy. A new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question. Who do you want to be? And what's the song that can take you there.

Music changes what you feel. And what you feel changes what you do, right? that moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year, I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatsky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who shaped my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies. I'll pair them with the right records and will teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy.

for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prins, Music is Therapy, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets. We were in the car, like a rolling stone came on, and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't feel like I was being accepted is shoes and identity that other people can't have. I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't. hold on to what had happened. These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets.

Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Rihanna Dillon to discuss Audible's 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 listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and IHeart Audio Club on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. playing scenarios for the producers

and network, like how you would be on a date? Oh, I thought my mind was, my mind was so much. Yeah, yeah, I was like, whoa. What a question, Jacqueline. You do do some PR training. So I do, I do remember doing very little amounts, but kind of if this question is asked, how would you answer it?

But no, for the most part, let me just like, squeeze in what happens when you become the bachelor. You become the bachelor. get announced in some former fashion, you show up to Los Angeles about a week before filming starts and they do a bunch of B-roll with you. And you get to live your best life. You're like, I love being The Bachelor. They pay for everything. You go out to these fancy dinners. You're staying in a nice hotel. You get room service. You're hanging out. It's great. It's the best. And then all of a sudden, the show starts. You know, like, goodness gracious, this is hard. And that's really it.

I remember, I don't think I've ever shared this. When I became The Bachelor, I remember the day, I very clearly, you show up to the mansion early because, like, E was there and some other places, people doing interviews. Then you go up to the bathroom upstairs, Ashley, like the big one that you see in the show a lot with the tub. And you get your hair and makeup done. You don't get that done every day, but just like for rose ceremonies, typically they would make the bachelor, you know, get groomed up a little bit. And then I got my suit on and they brought up

so much sushi. And so this whole, all the producers, everybody sat there and ate sushi. And then the sun goes down at the time and Chris walks in. He's like, hey, you ready? I'm like, yeah. And you walk downstairs and all of a sudden the first limo pulls up. It's not, there's no like prep. There's no planning. It's really just for me at least, it was like go out there. Sport. Good luck. Heather is saying kissing after sushi I think there's probably worse things but that goes with a follow-up question

Chelsea from Wisconsin says and sorry that question was from Jacqueline from South Carolina this one Chelsea from Wisconsin saying do they provide gum, mince and mouthwash on the dating shows yeah yeah

what was the go-to on housewives because during Bachelor it's Listerine strips like total oh my gosh you just threw me back i forgot all about that being the go-to the go-to is listerine strips we since there's no kissing really there's it's not really a priority we didn't have anything being passed around okay uh Cindy from Maine asks what is media training and how do you do it I get to answer this very quickly media training is pretty much as you can imagine like you're sitting in a room maybe there's like three or four other people and they're grilling you with questions and then they're like digging deeper into the answers that you give

to try to get you frustrated so it can be about anything sensitive and they'll and it's actually I think very helpful and and you know executives do it actors actresses before maybe a media circuit but they just pretty much grill you with questions and then kind of critique the answers that you give and to see what gets you frustrated or not, to see if you get frustrated or not. Oh my gosh, Ben, this is so different than what I thought, because the only thing that I've done is just kind of sit on a Zoom call for an hour being like, if you're asked something like this,

you know, obviously don't give like the full-blown answer. Like, don't reveal any secrets. And that's like it. I've never been having to practice my answer. Yeah, I think for me it was what's going to fire Ben up? Like, are we going to see him come alive here or not? It was also, you know, there was a whole mixed bag. Like I just gave an example of kind of the panel.

But then also there was that in the marketing for the bachelor, if somebody asks you, are you happy? How are you going to answer that? And then you answer it. And they're like, that gives too much information. Maybe answer it this way. And you're like, okay. You try to remember everything they say.

Sometimes you do. Sometimes you don't. And that's kind of the media training. Ashley, Gina from California asked, do you get tired of people recognize you from The Bachelor? Have you ever wanted to distance yourself from the show? No. I think it's quite obvious. And I love it when people come up to us.

I never, ever get tired of that. It's so, so much fun. It's so great. It's just so fun. I think for me, there's like the ego part that I love. Of course. I mean, of course. Yeah, there's the ego part that I'm like, oh, yeah, cool.

I also, it's really fun for me, Ashley, to know I did something in my life that people know me from. Like, I just think that idea is cool. It's a story that I'm going to be talking about for a long time. And so, no. And it's a love language for me. Yeah, attention. But not everyone's like us.

There's a lot of people that I'll, like, hang with and they're not as receptive. Just because we're really nice. All right. Ashley, ask the question. Okay, Haley from Georgia says, what items are in the fantasy suite? Is it like the hideaway on Love Island? Yes, there are condoms in there. And there's usually a bottle of champagne.

And there's usually snacks. How do you know this? I've been in two fantasy suites. You forget these things. Oh. I go to the fantasy suite every night in my life now. Oh, the hideaway has hair. handcuffs and toys. No, it's not like that.

Goodness gracious hideaway. Yeah, there's like a bowl and it's not like an extensive list. It's kind of your necessities. It sits there by the bed and just kind of like creeping over your shoulder as you guys hang out, I guess. That's what I remember. I mean, I've told you this, but the fun one for me was Caitlin because we had that bottle of bourbon that we pretty much smashed that night and then just like snubing. out and ran around the lake up there in Ireland. That was fun.

We had a great time. She's like a buddy. She's a buddy. I just laugh every time you talk about this fantasy sweet. It was something. It seemed like that much of a buddy. She's a good friend. Chelsea asks you, Ashley.

Actually, this is a question I want to know the answer to. I don't know the answer to this question. Will you be recapping each episode of The Real House? wise of Rhode Island. I don't think I'm allowed to do that. So no. What? No.

Can I alone without you using your name on the title of the podcast? I guess. I think I can lightly talk about like my thoughts on the episode, but I surely won't be able to say exactly how it happened in my memory. Hmm. We'll do what we can. We'll do as much as we can. Can't get you into trouble, but we can push the limits.

At least I can push the limits. We got to get somebody from that team on the, I mean, goodness, if you don't have the almost famous podcasting talking about your show, is a show really even existing out there? I told them that they, if they want to sit on here and tell us what we can and cannot put out on the air, sure, come, come do it, please. Be nothing but supportive, as always. Our PR team, our PR team was a,

former bachelor PR team. One of my favorite PR people that I've ever worked with, if not my favorite. Yeah, I know, right. She's so sweet. She was like my friend. Like, we would hang out in L.A. Without, you know, having to do work. Yeah.

She'll be friends with you until she trips you up to say something stupid and then all of a sudden canceled Ashley. Hey, this has been fun. I hope we can do this again. I like answering your questions. What are you curious about? What are you thinking about? I'm sure when it comes to the future stuff here, when it comes to the future stuff here,

when it comes to Taylor's season of The Bachelorette and then Ashley coming on Real Housewives and all the cool things happening there. You'll have more questions. So we'll do this again throughout the year. But until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. See you guys.

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