The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The Most Shocking Bachelor Moments of 2025 - #1

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

We’ve made it to the #1 most shocking Bachelor moment for 2025! Time to make your last predictions before we hand out the final rose! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. This new year swaps someday with today. You've already got the idea, so make it real in 26 with a pro-level website. GoDaddy makes it easy with the lowest-priced website builder,

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I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsin. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this.

It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know he has a reputation, but it's going to catch up to him. Gabe Ortiz is a cop. His brother Larry, a mystery Gabe didn't want to solve until it was too late. He was the head of this gang.

You're going to push that line for the cause? Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry's killed, Gabe must untangle a dangerous past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? My sister was y'all 22 times. A police officer, right?

But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law until we came together to take him down. I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the Girlfriends Untouchable on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcast with IHartRadio. It's the Almost Famous Podcasts. It's been, we're counting down the top five most shocking moments that happened in Bachelor Nation this year, 2025.

Now we've made it to the number one most shocking moment. This moment was shocking for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is it deals with a person's health and well-being, and two, this person is so young. So I think this moment was a wake-up call. It really was for a lot of us to take our health seriously. And with that, the most shocking Bachelor Nation's, moment of 2025 was Katie Thurston's breast cancer diagnosis. Back in March, we talked with Katie a month after her diagnosis at only 34 years old.

Actually, last summer was the first time I felt a lump in my breast, but I'd had a benign cyst before that was removed and not cancerous. I'm only, yeah, and I'm only 34, so I'm not thinking breast cancer at all. It doesn't run in my family. I am overall pretty healthy. There was never an urgency to get it checked out. And I kind of put it off thinking maybe it's PMS, maybe it's from working out. You know, it's the summertime. And then finally in January, you know, I was getting ready to move to New York to be with my fiance, Jeff.

And it was like, well, I should do some kind of like medical checks before we leave and we were going to be traveling for six weeks. And so I kind of went into the office almost thinking it was going to be like a checkup, like a, yeah, It's just another benign cyst, and you can just move on with your life. And very, very quickly, the appointment energy was shifting. I could feel it. No one was saying anything, but you know you can just feel the vibe of the room change. This was shocking for many reasons. As I already mentioned, Katie is so young.

But it was also one of those moments where I think everybody that heard it took a step back. It took a step back to analyze their life, their health. It also is one of those moments that helps us all maybe see things a little clearer, meaning that when we're in the face of something so difficult, so scary, so big, I think so many of us sit down and kind of reanalyze our own lives. We see things clear because all of a sudden so many other things don't matter. Now, to give you a little background here, she, Katie was the Bachelorette, and in February of 2025, is when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors initially told her after she found a lump in her breast that her cancer was stage three. it was stage three triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma.

This is a common form of breast cancer where the tumor has estrogen, progesterone, and her two receptors. Later in March 2025, she shared that the cancer had spread metastasized to her liver, which means it's now classified as stage four metastatic breast cancer. cancer. Since that day, Katie has been undergoing treatment, including systemic therapy. This is medication and chemotherapy mixed together. In an October 25 public appearance, she reported that her medicine is working, thank God, and her tumor was still shrinking at the six-month scan. This is positive news for Katie and for all of us. Katie has done an incredible job at being candid about this, diagnosis. She's also shared so many stories of the toll it's taken on her physically.

But yet, Katie, as she always has, has still this underlying just joy and positivity about her. In an interview we did with her, she told us that the way her and her husband communicate is oftentimes by joking, even if those jokes are like somewhat inappropriate. It helps them communicate and heal. And I think there's a beauty to that. Their dance is absolutely wonderful, which brings me to some big life updates for Katie this year as well. Not long after we chatted with Katie on our podcast,

she got married in a backyard wedding to comedian Jeff R. Curry. This is before she started treatment for her stage three breast cancer. Here's a quote from Katie. She says, you would think it would cause more tribulation or problems between the two of them, but it's bonded us more than anything else, which is why we're moving up the wedding a little bit. Obviously, we were wanting to plan a wedding.

She continued, and there's a lot of emotions that come in with the chemo and the impact and the health, and we don't know what the next year looks like. We continued here at the Almost Famous podcast to follow Katie's journey, as she shared with the world on her social media after her breast cancer did spread to her liver, as I mentioned, and it changed to stage four. In October, she gave an update when she got her six-month check-in.

She said, October is freaking nuts. It was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Jeff was gone the entire month, which she mentioned on her show as well, because of his career. Sometimes he has to be gone. Then I also had my six-month check-in pet scan. No spread.

she said. The breast MRI shows that the tumor is still shrinking. Katie continues, the thing I did not realize every monthish, I have to give my blood drawn, and I hate needles. I hate the time and emotional energy it takes to go to the hospital here in New York. It takes so much out of me. I can imagine. Can't you all? I mean, goodness. She's tired. She's going through all this treatment. There's so many things in front of her that feels so daunting yet once a month she has to get in her car travel through the city of new york go and give blood which she mentioned she hates and deal with the crowds and the people uh katy is a battler she has shown nothing but the desire the willingness to fight this and she shared it with so many of us which i think is It doesn't take away from it being the number one most shocking moment. But what this does do is it's one of those things. Yes, this was shocking for her to tell the world that she has breast cancer,

then that it metastasized to her liver. But in the midst of this, Katie has still gone out of her way to educate all of us, which I think is something incredible. It's made so many others out there I know feel less alone who are going through something. similar to Katie or so many of us have felt less alone by watching Katie's stories because we know somebody going through something similar to Katie's or she's made so many of us feel less alone because we've witnessed somebody who has faced such a difficult diagnosis and said hey yes I have a battle to fight but I want to bring you all in to learn and share with me.

New Year's Resolution. Own how you show up online. It's easy with a domain and matching email from GoDaddy. Now just 99 cents per month for new customers their first year. Ring in 2026 with a domain and matching email at goaddy.com slash new year. That's goaddy.com slash new year to own how you show up online. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed.

We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's Attorney General is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this.

It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the I, Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo.

This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. gentleman's cut bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? I just fell and started screaming.

If you lost someone you loved in the most horrific way. I said through y'all 22 times. The police, right? But what if the person you're supposed to go to for help is the one you're the most afraid of? This dude is the devil. He's a snake.

He'll hurt you. I got you, I got you. I'm Nikki Richardson, and this is The Girlfriends, Untouchable. Detective Roger Golubski spent decades intimidating and sexually abusing black women across Kansas City, using his police badge to scare them into silence. This is the story of a detective who seemed above the law until we came together to take him down. I told Roger Golubski, I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you died. Listen to the Girlfriends Untouchable on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Dad had the strong belief that the devil was attacking us. Two brothers, one devout household, two radically different paths. Gabe Ortiz became one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officers in Texas. 32 years, total law enforcement experience. But his brother Larry, he stayed behind. and built an entirely different legacy. He was the head of this gang, and nobody was going to tell him what to do.

You're going to push that line for the calls. Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry is murdered, Gabe is forced to confront the past he tried to leave behind and uncover secrets he never saw coming. My dad had a whole other life that we never knew about. My mom started screaming my dad's name, and I just heard one gunshot. The Brothers Ortiz is a gripping true story about faith, family, and how two lives can drift so far apart and collide in the most devastating way.

Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Katie is shared through social media mostly of her cancer experience has been so difficult, especially on her physically, as I mentioned, Katie said that she has suffered memory loss. It's taken an emotional strand on her. It's definitely, and this is an exact quote, but it's kind of consolidated quote that she has. She says reflecting on an intense treatment and the disease has affected her quality of life. She has described adjusting to this new life with stage 4 cancer and finding support in the community of other survivors.

One of the reasons why, as I just mentioned, Katie has been so vocal on social media is because she has gathered this network and this community of people who are survivors of a similar cancer or cancer, and they've been able to share with each other. Had I heard someone my age with their story last summer when I felt the lump, I think I would have been more proactive on getting it checked because the biggest thing I'm learning now is it's actually like an epidemic right now in women in their 20s and 30s and 40s who are getting breast cancer and multiple doctors that I've seen in different departments are like, we don't know what's going on. And it's crazy that only until I was diagnosed am I learning that. But now that I'm like searching for answers, I'm seeing just how many. women are being impacted. I always say I kind of have a saying in life, I don't want to learn from anybody who hasn't been there. Does that make sense? Again, I don't want to learn from somebody who hasn't been there, but I do learn a ton from those who have been there. When you get to hear somebody like Katie speak about this emotional toll, this physical toll, speak about the treatments,

as she gets educated on the treatments, speak about what has had to change in her lifestyle, what she's learned along the way, I'm listening because I know she's been through it. And so there's a lot that I can gain from Katie and we can all gain from Katie in terms of life advice. This is better than any book we could pick up at the store on seven ways to make your life better or make your life make more sense because Katie is in the midst of one of the hardest seasons of life, one of the things that so many of us dread or are scared of or try to protect ourselves from. She's She's in the midst of it, and as a result, I'm learning from her, and I think so many of us are because of how incredible she's been to so many other survivors and also a group of us who

maybe don't have that direct connection to this disease, this terrible disease, we are still watching and learning along the way. There's also a side of this, too, where so many of us are fans of Katie, and we want to follow her story with her so that we can be up to date on how she's progressing and how she's healing. We're rooting for her from the side. On top of everything else, as I mentioned, Katie has gone on social media. She's done interviews. She's been so open about all this. She also has emphasized the trust in medical advancements and encourages so many of you listening to check yourself she teaches all of us on how to check ourselves for cancer similar to hers like

breast cancer but as you've heard if you've listened to the podcast of course the terrible world of online rumors and hoaxes have also happened to katy so in the midst of all this she's physically tired she's emotionally tired she's mentally tired she's had to also combat the rumors that she somehow passed away um and she's had to address this and deny this. People are taking advantage of this terrible situation, which I hate, and I think so many of us do, I hate this new trend of online rumors and hoaxes coming out there on different subjects that are so personal and intimate to each and every human being. So Katie's had to battle that. But the update right now is that she is alive, she is

battling. She is fighting. She is managing this disease. We know and so much care for Katie that, yes, this is a shocking moment of 2025. It's a memorable moment of 2025, but it's a learning moment for us in 2025. I think this is definitely the most shocking moment in 2025 when it comes to bachelor nation because it was one of those moments where all of a sudden we all took a deep breath it wasn't a breakup it wasn't a dating rumor it wasn't some online you know feud that somebody was having no this is a real life real human experience and goodness gracious katie you have handled it well uh you have done um so much for the community around you we at the almost famous podcast, me personally, the listeners, are all rooting for you as you continue on in this

battle. But this was the most shocking moment of 2025. Katie Thurston publicly tells all of us that she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, which soon turned into stage four cancer. Katie, we're rooting for you. Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcasts on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

This new year Swaps someday with today. You've already got the idea, so make it real in 26 with a pro-level website. GoDaddy makes it easy with the lowest-priced website builder, guaranteed. Ready to build a confetti-ready site in minutes?

New customers start for free at goaddy.com. That's goaddy.com to get the lowest-priced website builder, guaranteed. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different.

Visit Gentleman'scuturban.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com. Please enjoy responsibly. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsin. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much

justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know he has a reputation, but it's going to catch up to him. Gabe Ortiz is a cop. His brother Larry, a mystery Gabe didn't want to solve until it was too late. He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the cause. Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry's game must untangle a dangerous past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened?

My sister was y'all 22 times. A police officer, right? But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law, until we came together to take him down. I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable,

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.