The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - What You Might Have Missed!

Episode Date: August 31, 2026

Almost Famous covered a lot in the month of August, be sure to check out anything you might have missed!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. Get Bell purefiber internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. On the new podcast Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude.

is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I chose option B. I'm Julie Pinero, and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Listen to Solita on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Hayes Davenport and Sean Clements. We host the podcast Hollywood Handbook. Each week, we talk to someone in show business and try to help them with their careers and see what they have to offer us. Everyone has a good time and no one gets mad at their publicists for letting them do our show. We've had a lot of great guests like Sarah Sherman, Adam Scott, Danny McBride, Ben Stillard,

and a lot of other big shots that wouldn't be where they are without us. Listen to Hollywood Handbook on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I survived nine months in captivity and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our hometown is not a test tube. 90 miles northeast of Nashville, a battle for the future of a future of a podcast. America plays out in one small town. Developers with right-wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land. We need cities on a shining hill. This is Our Town, a podcast about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment and fights back. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to Our Town on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast with IHartRadio. Welcome back to Almost Famous.

It's been here with you. There was a lot that happened on Almost Famous in the month of August. So before we head into September, let's make sure you didn't miss anything. The Almost Hemas crew went off to Lake Tahoe for our second annual pickleball event. Lots of episodes from that. but the trip ended on a pretty intense conversation between Joan Vassos, Courtney Robertson, and Trista Sutter. I felt like I was accused of Form an Alliance bullying. You said on a podcast that producers didn't like me.

I never had any bad word. You said that producers, that producers said told you that they didn't like me, as you said on a podcast. I would want to hear that. I don't think I said that. But to be quite honest with you, the arches were a lot. And even Kathy, when you went on, Kathy's like, oh, my God. And we're like, Joan of Arc or whatever. Like, to me, it's not the second coming of Christ,

but I'm sorry if you felt that way. But when I watched the show back and when they told me and I saw you say, like, oh, she plays the mom card and this and that, like, that hurt my feelings. I am a mom of three little kids. And I'm dealing with a husband who's been, I know. Cheating on me for seven years.

But again, like, it was like a producer thing that, you know, they poke you, poke you, poke you, poke you, until you say something that they want you to say. And, you know, I didn't think that they would do that. I didn't know how I was going to air. They were doing that to me in ITMs, definitely. I've met a lot of people in Bachelor Nation. And when I came off my season and I went to that Bachelor Mansion event in Malibu, Sean Lowe, they were just about to announce him.

Gillian Harris, so many people reached out to me to support me. You didn't give me in the fucking time of day. Chris Harrison was there and you treated me like scum. I literally, you said that and I didn't treat you like scum. You said I, I don't remember that. I don't remember that you even being there, honestly. Trista took some time to reflect on the conversation with Bob. Yeah, there were definitely things that afterwards that I felt like, oh gosh, why didn't I do that?

Or why didn't I say that? The biggest thing is that, you know, Heather asked, me to tell us what happened or tell you guys what happened. And so I wanted to start from the beginning. And I went back to when she wrote her book and the podcast that I had heard about. That was the one where you were called the salty name. Right. Yeah. Exactly. And other things, there were other things that were said on there that I didn't get to. But it wasn't Courtney who said that. She did not say that word. No, she did not. And I, And she said, I didn't say that.

And I said, no, I know you didn't say that. The host said that. I said that she had started laughing. And then she said she has a nervous laugh. So, you know, whatever. All of that was said, right? But what I wanted to, like, listening back or actually just thinking about what had been said, I really just wish when Heather gave me the floor and said, tell us what happened,

And I wish I would have started with the fact that I acknowledge that as I did when I sent her the email, the Olive Branch email, I acknowledge, I acknowledged, I acknowledged in the past, and I want to acknowledge again that I heard her. Like that's how I wish that I had started that part of the podcast, like when I was given the floor. I wish I would have just said, I'm sorry again for hurting you. Yeah. And because I know I did. A lot of love in the air this month. Bachelor Nation alum's Michael A. Juliana Pascaroso and Tyler Cameron all got engaged.

Congrats to them. Speaking of Love in the Air, famously available is back. And we caught up with Deanna, Kathy, and some new additions to the crew. Kathy, I am still available. So am I, Deanna? How does this happen? I don't know. Can you tell me?

Something is not right in the world. The stars have not aligned. I got nothing here. I don't know. What's been up with you? Tell me what's been going on with you since we last chatted. I did dip my toes in. Okay.

Into a relationship. Tell me. I, like, dated a guy and just him for like three months. Oh. Yeah, it was kind of wild. We were like, we're like, it was really intense from the start. Okay. Yeah.

Sounds good. Obviously something happened. Well, you know. Know that you're not quite ready for an intense relationship when it's a panty dropper if he just carries toilet paper up the stairs. Are we talking love bombing with toilet paper? What are we talking here? No, like, for the first time in my life, this man carried things up the stairs without having to be asked. And I was like, have me, Lord. I am yours. We caught up with Bachelor Nation alum Eric Bigger.

Over the years, I went through a lot of change. I had a metamorphosis. I had to go through heartbreak. I had to go through portrayal, loss, shame, guilt, and all the things you don't think you experience at that part of your career where the physical success didn't mean much. The accolades didn't feel as great as they looked because I was suffering internally. I was wearing a mask. And Lauren and I continue to get familiar with the real housewives as we started recapping the ultimate. girls trip roaring 20th. Yes, each day we're growing more and more keen to these women. I love, I mean, it's probably such an honor to be picked for the ultimate girls trip because there has been 20 years in so many seasons and so much rotation in each cast

and then these are the ultimate, the ultimates of the ultimates. Did you know who Teresa Judice was before this? Yeah, so I knew who she was, Lauren, because I met her daughter in Tahoe and like was promoting the dirty rush show and looked up her mom. Okay. While we were there. And I was and she, for whatever reason, I did recognize her. Like I did say, oh, I've seen her somewhere on TV before.

But I'm not familiar. Like that's about as big. At which I know her. Yeah. Because when I look at this, this group of women, she seems to be the most like widely known because she has the classic where she flips the table at dinner. You've probably seen a meme of that. She flips the table over.

Also, she went to prison. Okay? That is why she's been widely known. And then her daughter's famous. And she was also on special forces, which is one of my diehard love that show. So that's why she is like the most iconic to me. Okay.

So you know who else stood out to me? Portia. I do know of Porsche because, I think she's referenced a lot when it comes to the icons of the franchise. Yeah. I have a couple gay buddies who love housewives. Uh-huh. And every once in a while, like when we're together, they'll like inside talk.

I don't know how to say it. Like they have these inside jokes about life and things that I never understand. but the housewives is typically those jokes. And Porsche's like reference a lot. Like they'll say, I think things like, that's so Porsche or something. And I'm like, I have no idea what that means. I get your idea, but now I get it. Get Bell, Pure Fiber Internet with Crave Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month.

Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.com for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. If your bookshelf and your for-you page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Prose Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsesives, and anyone who thinks pride and prejudice and love island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and the conversations everyone can't stop having. I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. So I'm obsessed.

From bestselling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, then that is a Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to pro society on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages. On the new podcast Solita, we share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I chose option B.

I'm Julie Pinero, and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Every time I tried to be alone, I kept meeting people, and they were like, you smiled at us. Not a lot of people smile around here. It's when you're alone that you're most receptive to the world as it is and not the lies you're sold about it. It can be a time where you push your limits, change your mind, or wake up to a new version of yourself. So whether you're a solo travel veteran or you're too nervous to book your first trip, I hope you listen to Solita on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are the Survivor Files. I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. knew if he woke up. Without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. There's stories about

what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. podcasts. Hey, this is Hayes Davenport. And Sean Clements. We host the podcast Hollywood Handbook on the Big Money Players Network. Our show is extremely accessible to first-time listeners. Each week, we talk to someone in show business, aka the biz, and try to help them with their

careers and see what they have to offer us. Everyone has a good time, and no one gets mad at their publicists for letting them do our show. We've had a lot of great guests like Sarah Sherman. Not that great. Actually, can you help me shape this? How about we flip an artist? head, right? How about we flip the script?

Okay. What is the surprise woman? Who actually, you think is the straight man is actually the one who's acting weird? Adam Scott, this entire time, you've been expecting Adam Sandler to come to visit the show. I would never expect, I have, I would never set expectations for something like that to happen. If the universe allows for something like that to happen, I'm open to it. I'm always going to accept. You know, Danny McBride, fine. Yeah, it's all this fragile masculinity

exuding. I could smell it walking down the hallway, to be honest with you. I was like, is that weed? Nope, it's fragile masculinity. Ben Stiller, no. Because a lot of times, out of context, people don't get it or even know what a circle is. You know what I mean? They're like, they're like, oh, what's a state.

Everyone's so dumb. And fake. Right, fake and also not interested. or just like, oh, I've got my life, I don't care about your life. And a lot of other big shots that wouldn't be where they are without us. Oh, and by the way, Will Ferrell told us personally he loves the show and he wants to be a guest on every episode, but he's just so busy. Listen to Hollywood Handbook on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On our spin-off, kind of famous, Deanna and producer Heather did a deep dive recap on the Netflix

dating show, Let's Marry Harry. I do want to know what your kind of knowledge is about our lead, Harry Jousy, before you got, before you saw this show or anything, what did you know about him? Okay. I have been looking forward to this to sitting down with you because I don't know who he is. Okay. I had no clue who he was and I did myself, you know, a solid here. I did not Google him before I got here today.

Okay. I didn't look up a single photo of him. I wanted to be able to because you've got it. Like, reality is your thing. I needed to hear. Is it a shocker? people that I do know who he is. Well, that's why I was like, I'm just going to let Heather fill me in and school me on this guy

right now because what I get starting the show is I feel like I got to know this kid. Yeah. I can see by the way he talks and some of the things that he says. I'm like, he had to have been on some sort of just like boy show just by the way he talks. Yeah, but he's cute. He's attractive. He's a cutie for sure. So we all got to know Harry Jousey back in 2020 or 20,

or 2021, somewhere around there, he was on the first season of Netflix's Too Hot to Handle. Now, if you don't know what that show is, it's where they basically trick a bunch of hot people. They think that they're going on a dating show. And then once they get to the location, they say, actually, you're on too hot to handle. And you're not allowed to touch each other

or it will affect the cash prize. So they're basically told that they can't hook up, get physical, get intimate, because it's about building a connection first. and there's like a group prize pot that they're all playing with. It's a cash prize. Cash prize. And anytime somebody breaks the rules and makes out or does something else other than making out, the money depletes.

And that's what the funniness of that show is. Now, do I know anybody watching Too Hot to Handle anymore? I do not. I think we kind of all got over a little bit of it after season three. I know I did. But Harry was on season one. He had a strong connection with Francesca, who he dated on and off, you know, during filming after filming.

He then went on Netflix's perfect match, which we have recapped as well on this show. So our audience kind of knows what that is. It's basically a bunch of people from Netflix dating shows coming to date again. It's like their version of paradise, essentially. Harry has made his rounds, it feels like. Yes, Harry is not a stranger. And he's now got a podcast on the Unwell Network, and he's 28. and some of my favorite lore though recently about Harry is who he's dated or rumored to have dated outside of TV.

So the big rumor was never like fully confirmed like they weren't spotted out together, but he was supposedly dating Lucy Hale as of last year. Stop it. I know. Which is she's too good for him. It's actually crazy. That was a crazy one. The other was that he was rumored to be dating.

seea the singer chandelier singer what the one with the who always has her face it is yes yes but she's 50 he's 28 and if you Google it you will see Sia and Harry Jousey holding hands photos

but it was kind of debunked that it was just to garner up press for this show that we're about to recap because she then reposted the casting notice for this show so how they know each other how they're even friends, that is actually surprising to me, but Harry has crossed over from reality TV and is hanging

out with people like, Lucy Hale and Sia. So, um, so he has come a long way. He sure has. And we got to talk to Harry's winner, Amber. I got this call and I got the opportunity and I kind of just like wanted a sign for myself, to be honest. And I got some really cool personal signs. Some like, I feel like it's hard to kind of talk about these tips to like,

spiritual things in this environment because not a lot of people like I think can digest that which I've learned going on reality TV but I'm just going to keep it short and say I had a lot of really amazing signs to go like my life told me like this is a new timeline for you take a chance on it and everything that's transpired since saying yes to the show to now the reunion yeah it's um it was a big lesson for me I'm sorry it's really hard to talk about like this as you saw the reunion yesterday. But I know there's a reason this all happened, you know. There's only so much I can say because I have to be quiet about certain things.

But what I'm trying to say in my personal life is, yeah, I know that this was meant to happen to me for a reason. We also caught up with Harry's runner-up, Dinell. I'm going to jump off from the beginning here because I know Deanna has a lot of lot of questions, like details and digging into stuff. And I was just on social media. And there's an argument going on on social media that I want to ask you specifically about. Okay. Danelle, do you think Harry actually wanted to find a wife? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Uh-huh. You know, I think he does want a wife. I'm just not sure if he's ready. I think deep down, he, you know, he did everything that he could to prepare for it. His friends were

saying, you know, he was reading all these books and doing all these things, talking to his married friends, like, getting advice before, like, to prepare himself for the show. I think he really did want to find a wife. I don't know if he's ready. And our OG Bob Guinea connected with She's All Batch host Stephanie Parker to get her thoughts on reality dating shows and the state of the Bachelor franchise. After I shared the legal letter, people started coming to me and saying, I mean, I just had Corinne Olympios on my show.

And she said this topic came up about how the franchise doesn't really love how people then become famous after the show. And what I said in response to that was, well, it doesn't matter what they go off to do. They're still, they're tied to the franchise. Like you think of Ashley I, she's gone on to do amazing things and she is incredible, but she's from The Bachelor and those are her roots. And there's nothing wrong with that. So I don't get why The Bachelor can't just say like, yeah, go off and be the biggest star in the

world, it looks good on us. It's like when a teacher has a star student, like it looks good on the teacher. I don't get it. I know. I agree with you. I think it's really interesting. It's like, you almost have to, if you can't beat them, join them type of thing. And I think they're still in the let's beat them process, right? And it's like, man, you're kind of hanging on to something that's getting really slippery. And you know, you want better people to put their names in the ring. And you want people who are, you know, going to, I mean, I mean, this show is still relevant, although I think a lot of people are talking lately about how it's lost so much relevance. And I'm curious about your thoughts on that. And then what you think we could do to, to write that ship, like to get it to a

point where maybe it is, you know, destination viewing for people again. Oh, gosh. I want them to, I think they should hire me. I feel like I can give them a lot of pointers. I think is it relevant to answer your first question, no. I don't think it's relevant today. Does that mean they can't turn it around? I think they could turn it around. I think they had like a blueprint of what the show was in 2002 and they have not updated it in how many years. I mean, I just covered on my last episode my thoughts on Let's Marry Harry. And I didn't think that was the most groundbreaking television either, but it was, there was a lot of similarities to The Bachelor. And I said they took, they took book the Bachelor Blueprint, but made it modern and made it better.

Plus, I caught up with Meredith, the managing editor at Picks Media, and she threw out some wild suggestions on who she thinks should be the next Bachelor. There's rumors that they are beginning the casting for the next Bachelor season. Is there somebody in your mind right now when we talk about stunt casting, or maybe just a single popular person who could carry this frame? franchise as the lead of Bachelor's season, I believe 30? Wild. Wild. That comes to mind that you would love to see kind of get put in that place.

Yeah. I mean, I've definitely like seen the rumors that they're considering someone from Taylor's season, which I think is a terrible idea. I don't get that. Yeah. Like, let's start fresh. Yeah. It's, yeah, completely. But I think, I think, I think we're thinking realistically in the world. of Disney, Hulu, ABC, and all of their, you know, cast of characters, I think it would, I have so many, like, women in mind for The Bachelorette. Like, but if we're talking male leads for The Bachelor, I want to see Rob Kardashian come out of hiding. He has, you know, Kardashians are now on Hulu and he has not been in the public eye or even on cameras for that show in years.

He's a lover boy. We have seen that. I think that would be, I mean, break the internet. Let's see that. I've never heard that name thrown out here, and I love it. Make sure to go back and catch up on any of this content you might have missed. The Almost Famous Crew will be back with more very soon. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts on IHeart Radio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hey, this is Hayes, Davenport. And Sean Clements. We host the podcast, Hollywood Handbook. Each week, we talk to someone in show business and try to help them with their careers and see what they have to offer us. Everyone has a good time and no one gets mad at their publicists for letting them do our show.

We've had a lot of great guests like Sarah Sherman, Adam Scott, Danny McBride, Ben Stillard, and a lot of other big shots that wouldn't be where they are without us. Listen to Hollywood Handbook on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I survived nine months in captivity, and I've spent my life.

life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart and these are the Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to the Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the new podcast, Solita,

We share the messy reality of traveling alone as a woman. I can wait four hours for the next bus or this random dude is offering me a ride on his motorcycle. I chose option B. I'm Julie Pinero and I travel by myself because it's a rare space where I can say yes without asking anyone else first. I'm on a mission to reclaim the word Solita, trading the pity for possibility. Listen to Solita on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our hometown is not a test tube. 90 miles northeast of Nashville,

a battle for the future of America, plays out in one small town. Developers with right-wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land. We need cities on a shining hill. This is Our Town, a podcast about what happens when a small town

becomes the site of a social experiment and fights back. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to Our Town on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, you get your podcasts.

I'm Munga Chitigula and I'm back with a new season of my podcast, Skyline Drive. This time I talked to scientists, biopunks, curmudgins, blues owners, super seniors, and Goa's top cryotherapy lab to try to understand this obsession with living forever and what it means for all of us. And I get into a bit of trouble along the way. I'd say probably start bone smashing. That doesn't work. To make it look more defined.

They say it works. I don't know. Listen to Skyline Drive, How to Live Forever on the IHeart Radio. app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.