The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Who Slid Into DeAnna’s DM’s???

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

Our famously available women are looking back on 2025 and just how far they’ve come in the love department!   Is modern dating sliding into the DMs? DeAnna shares about one man who recently got her attention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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. I got you. I got you. I got you. Listen to the girlfriends, Untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of Footloose? I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the

amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimeless, a true crime comedy podcast. Listen 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 killed, Game Must Untangle the 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. Hey everyone, it's me, Katie Couric. Did you know that I recently joined Substack? Very exciting. It's where I'll be sharing my unfiltered conversations with the people everyone's talking about. I'll also tell you what I'm reading, what I'm watching, what's making me crazy, and what's giving me hope.

If you like deep dives, hot takes, and real talk, you're in the right place. Search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. I'll be there reporting live, most likely, in my pajamas. See you there. IHeart Podcasts bring you the ultimate Summer of Love Tree. This is Famously Available. Been here on Famously Available. And as we wind up this year of 2025, I wanted to get our famously available.

women together to chat and reflect back on what this year has been for them. So ladies, take it away. Hey, everybody, Kathy here with Deanna and Mercedes. And we are just here together to have some end of the year girl chat. How are you guys doing today? I'm feeling a little under the weather, but I'm talking to you guys. So it's a good day. I'm doing great.

I just listened to the podcast yesterday with Mercedes and Bryce. Me too, me too. I was like so happy. What did you guys think? I, listen, whether you fall madly in love and run off into the sunset or not, I thought it was a really great first date and he's a nice guy. He really is. His episode, I just have mad respect for guys who can show up in that sense. I think it's a lot for all of us to come on here and go on blind dates and then talk about it for everyone to listen and dissect and tear apart. But for him in particular to come. on and date you and then be a part of the podcast and talk about it. And I don't know if you've listened yet, Mercedes, but he only had really wonderful things to say about you. Not shocking, not shocking because you're so great. But I just think that makes a stand-up guy. He could have come on and been like, she ignored me with all her friends a little bit. No, he was a solid dude. He was like, she's gorgeous. She's wonderful. The date was great. I'd love to see her again. He just had really great things to say about you. And I have a lot of respect for that. I've got to echo that. I listen

to the podcast, Mercedes, and I was even more adamant, oh, she's got to give him a second date. She's got to give him a second chance. I really, because he, when he was talking about the date and he was saying, you know, there were all these people. She had like 80 people and I had no one, but I made it work. I thought he came across on the podcast, a really positive person who's ready to engage, to have fun. He thought you were beautiful.

He said that if you were in L.A., he would have already had another date with you. He just said you check a lot of boxes. And I do agree that it's really hard to go on a first date at a concert with when you know no one and the girl you're having a date with knows everyone. I would second that. I would second that. Yeah. I'm with Kathy. I think you ought to give him a second chance.

Even if it's just like a quick drink if he makes his way to Nashville because it sounds like he's there quite a bit. Yeah. Yeah, for music. Even if he just makes his way to Nashville and you guys meet for a drink just to see without anybody else there, without any other noise, if there is anything there. Because I think he's a really great, I think he's a really great guy, whether he's yours or not. But I believe that it is worth a second date to just see if there's any chemistry there. Yeah.

Yeah. No, I agree. I definitely like the first date was, it was good. And it says a lot about his character and who he is that he could just like jump in and do whatever. do you know like not a lot of people can do that i will say and we were actually texting the other day and i was like you know distance is hard and we both agreed that we were like kind on the same page is like we were very aware that we live in different cities and like that's really really hard but he was like if we ever like find each other in if i'm in nashville or you're in l a let's catch up

and i was like yeah yeah but let me let me just say that that sounds sort of fatalistic to me like yeah it's nice knowing you've you know if i ever crossed your way again i think you should be intentional with him about trying to set up a date that, you know, in the next, let's just say month. Surely you'll be in L.A. or he'll be in Nashville. And like Deanna said, get together, have a drink. Because I really, I mean, I only spoke briefly at the concert. And I did feel for him that he, you knew everyone. He knew no one. Plus, I was chasing you both up and down from the bar and back up to suite again. So I didn't have a whole lot of time. But I really liked what I heard when he was talking to Ben. I really think I think you should do it. Yeah. Yeah, I need to, I honestly haven't listened to it. So I need to listen to it. And then, but no, he's a great guy at the end of the day. And I do think I should give him another date for sure. I think it's quite interesting given we're on the same podcast and we went on the same scenario for two dates, right? I had a different experience. And I think that's why I'm so like advocating for you to have a second date. Because

my scenario was very different. Like the guy that I went on a date with, he really didn't engage with anybody else there. Right. Kathy was there. She knows. Are we talking about the guy at the concert, Deanna? Yeah.

Unbelievably different vibe. It's night and day. My date to Mercedes date. Yeah. Bryce was really trying to get to talk to everyone and really trying to engage with all of us and make the best of a situation where you know what. Deanna's date kind of stood there like a statue and just,

he didn't even try. try to engage. Like he was a placeholder. He was there. You know, for, for whatever reason, he was, I don't know, maybe he's doing somebody a solid and just showing up so I actually had a date. That's what it felt like. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Your date was actually engaging and genuinely interested in you. Like that was seen across the room. Yeah. So I just think that if we're comparing the two, and it's not a point of comparison, that's not what I mean. I'm rooting for you to hopefully explore to see if there is something else there. That's what I'm rooting for.

Mine was clear as day that there was nothing there. He did not try to talk to anybody else in the suite. He didn't leave the suite. He left early. He didn't even ask me a phone number. Like, there was like, it was like nothing. On a scale of one to 10, about a minus one. Really?

Oh, my God. He's a nice guy. There just wasn't anything there. I mean, he just, there was no connection with, yeah. Or frankly, anyone else where Mercedes, I thought Bryce really tried. I know he chatted with me. And I did throw him for a little. loop though when I first met him and I said so what are you looking for and he said you know

and he said this on the on the podcast with Ben as well he said you know I'm just looking for a beautiful woman and then he said but you know beautiful looks different to different people I'm looking for someone who I sees intrinsic qualities like he he spoke very well about what beauty meant him but when he said it to me I thought is he really like superficial saying I want a beautiful woman. He's not. I feel like there's so much more debt. No, he's not. That's what I'm saying. He has so much more depth. Yeah. For someone who has been in like a spiritual growth journey and working on myself, I could see that through the things that he was saying. There's a part of it where he's still trying to look cool and attractive. Like I could see that. But there was also, I could read between

the lines that there is growth in the things that he had to say. And listen, y'all, we would all be lying if we weren't like, we want some tall, dark and handsome to show up who's super freaking hot. Like, come on. There's a piece of it where we're all. really superficial. Of course, he wants a beautiful girl. Okay. So we have to be proud of ourselves. We have put ourselves out there. I went to two Christmas parties this past week, solo, literally solo. And this really good looking guy came up to me. I thought, thank you, God, my Christmas is come early. And we were standing and he introduced himself and the minute he opened his mouth. I hadn't been at this party 45 minutes. And I had another one to go to. So I was

honestly finishing my drink, getting ready to leave. And when I tell you drunk, his tongue was too thick. No. Oh, no. And he, yeah, I just, so literally 45 minutes in and he's drunk. He said, you know, I don't know anyone here. I'm here. He was from out of town.

There were a lot of others. Was he young? I would say he was in his 60s. So, you know, you know, old enough to know better. It's appropriate for me and a really good looking guy, but so drunk. And so I said to him, you know, he said, you know, you're beautiful. I mean, it was bad. So I said, you know,

I wish, I hope you have a great holiday. I've got to run out the door. Oh, my God. But I was proud of myself that I did it. I went by myself and then I went from there to the next party, which was a much younger crowd, but still lots of fun. And, you know, I put myself out there. That's what we got to do.

That's really awesome, Kathy. You know, as someone who does not drink anymore, the drunkenness I cannot tolerate. I don't mind dating someone who drinks that doesn't bother me, but I cannot tolerate like drunkenness, like slurring your words, not remembering it. And alcohol is never, I don't care what you say, drinking, you know, getting a buzz on, whatever you want to call it, giving your confidence, all that stuff. Here's what I have seen people do. They get drunk and then they use alcohol as an excuse for bad behavior.

And it's never an excuse for bad behavior. Or people get like too drunk because they're nervous and then you're, it's just like you're ruining it for yourself right before you even get to talk to someone. Like get a good buzz, but like getting. too drunk is like, it's just a very good thing. Even when I did drink, I don't feel like I went on a first date and got too drunk. Do you know what I mean? Like, I still wanted to be able to make sure I liked someone and to be able to read the

room correctly, but even more so now that I don't drink, for me, it feels like a solid lesson. Like, mind your peas and cues. We still want to show up and impress someone. Don't be sloppy on a first or second or third date. Don't be sloppy in general. I was just going to say, I think good rule of thumb is, don't ever get sloppy with alcoholists. I mean, if you're with a bunch of people, of girls on a girl's weekend, you know, great. But on dating, uh-uh. No, it's just not cute.

It's not a good look. Don't show up that way. Don't show up. I too went to a Christmas party, but I did not have the same experience, Kathy. It was all women. I know. I didn't. I know. But still that, you know, I mean, honestly, I'm still going to give you kudos, Deanna, because I find it difficult sometimes to go out, even with a bunch of, I was out with girls last night. Sometimes it's hard to get the clothes on, get the makeup on, to show up just because it's hard, even if it's with girls. You know, there's lots of questions. What are you doing? Are you dating? It's always the same kind of stuff. So I find that difficult as well, sometimes. Yeah. Yeah.

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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 you shot 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 got you. I'm Nikki Richardson, and this is The Girlfriend.

Untouchable. Detective Roger Galoopsky 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 Galoopsky, I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, Untouchable, on the. iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions

than answers? And what is this? How is that not a story we all know? What's this? Where is that? Why is it wet? Boy, do we have a show for you? From smartless media, campside media, and big money players comes crimeless.

Join me, Josh Dean, Investors. And me, Roy Scoville, comedian, as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. We'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws. Honestly, it feels more like a high-level prank than a crime. Who catfishes a city? And meets some memorable anti-heroes. There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap, if you think, she's a witch.

And it freaks you out. He has x-ray vision. How could I not follow him? Honestly, I got to follow me. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless on the IHeartRadio 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 cause. 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. Hey, everyone. It's me, Katie Couric. Did you know that I recently joined Substack? It's where I'll be sharing my unfiltered conversations with the people everyone's talking about. Journalists breaking news, politicians making it. Actors, we can't stop. watching, experts, and a few unexpected voices who just might change the way you see the world. I'll also share what I'm reading, what I'm watching, what's making me roll my eyes, and what's giving me hope. It's a little news, a little opinion, and yes, the occasional curse word, because let's face it, have you seen the headlines lately? So if you like smart takes,

deep dives, and are also thinking, WTF is happening, search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. All of my interviews and articles are free to help everyone stay informed. But if you want to join the group chat and hear my hottest takes, well, that's for premium users only. It's going to be so much fun. I can't wait to see you there. Again, search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. I think I've learned to show up in certain ways. And it's so hard and I know you both understand this, having been on television. And, you know, not to take it back to Bryce, but he said when I was listening to the conversation between you and Bryce and I was there, Mercedes, he made the comment of like, you guys not going to know each other beforehand because you don't want a

preconceived notion. And I feel that for myself. I have a really hard time going to parties or making new friends or dating in general, because if they know who I am or they have Googled me, that is a turn off because then they have a preconceived notion of who they think that I am. In my experience, I have found that people don't truly want to get to know me. They want to get to know that person that they saw on TV. They think they know that person. So they don't try to get to know me. They just think that they know this person. And that's hard. Like in dating general, that feels really hard for me. I think that's my least favorite thing about dating like today is because social media is so in the center of our world and Google and all these things that like you and especially like

you said us being on TV we're really easy to find and before and I'm I do this too I will say like I am the type of girl before a date I'm like looking at your social media like you know like I've definitely been that girl so like going on blind dates I think it's really cool because yeah you're not able to do that and you have no you don't know this person like you're literally just it's like so here's something here's something for you both to look forward to when you get to be my age men my age and really even five and 10 years younger they don't they're not on social media facebook maybe that is so attractive to me it is so attractive it is but to your point diana i've had a few guys that have found me through facebook or whatever or friends have set me up but

they have done the research once they know no yep it's an ick for me it's an it for me too for me, for them to show up and say, oh, I know who you are. I watched your show however long time, however long ago, that's, that's unattractive for me. When someone walks up and they're like, oh, I'm sorry, I didn't watch your show. I'm like, no, please. No, I love when people say that. Yeah, that's so attractive to me.

If you come up and you're like, oh, no, no, no, I know you. I've sound this on Instagram, blah, it's a hard pass for me. It is immediately a turnoff. It's hard for me to move forward. All right, wait, do you guys really be, you say, you say, and it's a turnoff that they're checking out your social media, but would either of you really want a guy who has no social media? No, I want him to have social media so that I can go down the rabbit hole.

I was messaging you guys last week because this guy reached out to me on Instagram and said that he listens to the podcast. And one of his friends told him that he should message me. And he messaged our producer, Heather, as well, listen, I'm keeping my options open. So I immediately go to this guy's profile, but it's private. And I'm like, oh, who has a private profile these days? And I couldn't get a solid picture of him. So it allows me to be a little bit of a detective to try and find things out to see.

Because there has to be some piece of like. Wait a minute. Has he reached out to you yet? Oh, yeah. Yeah. We've had a full on conversation on Instagram. But I need like a. Whoa.

He doesn't even live here, you guys. He lives like in Northern California. He doesn't even live here. Don't let distance get in your way. Oh, yeah. I'm not letting it get in my way, but I am. completely acknowledging that my free time is very minimum. Okay. So, so I have a set schedule with my kids. So say if I have a stretch of five days where I don't have the kids, am I really

flying to Northern California to spend 48 hours with the guy? No, if you're interested, he's going to fly to you. He has kids too. That's the thing. So he has young kids too. So I just, from the get go before there is any attachment made or any feelings or anything that happens, I'm immediately like, this is probably not going to work. He has, his children are younger than mine. Just listen, I'm running this whole scenario out just from what I see on his social media, his children look to be younger than mine. But I immediately am like, well, it's probably not going to work. How much time could I truly invest? I will say, to be fair, when you have young children, Deanna, and anyone you're dating has young children, and you've got, you know,

you've got their dads or whatever it is. You've got the mechanics. It's complicated to set up, to set up. Yeah, in a dream scenario, I'd love to find someone here in Los Angeles, you know, and given that, that's long distance as it is. I mean, it could take me 20 minutes to get to someone's house or four hours. Right. You know what I mean? I would ideally love to find someone here in Los Angeles so that it's like, hey, let's meet up on Thursday night and drive down and be able to sleep in my own bed at night and drive back. You know what I mean? That would be an ideal scenario for me because I am not in a position realistically that if I met someone back home in Georgia. I'm not moving home for another 10 years at least. Yeah. So what does that really look

like? Yeah. I mean, it is different. I really hadn't given that serious thought. It is true. I have kids here, but I've made it very clear that I will move. Yeah, but your children are older, right? That's right. I'm saying that I absolutely give a lot of credence to that whole thought now that you have young kids. You can't just pack up and go. I can't up and move. And if somebody else could, you know what I mean? And he probably can't. Right. Right. He can't. So it goes to it's back to the whole thing. Like I, I let it's a love, hate relationship with social media. If they're posting shirtless, come get ready with me. That's an ick for me. But if it's so bad, it's something where I can go down the rabbit hole to see if they're attractive or not. I enjoy that. I don't know.

What do you think Mercedes? I always say like a man with under 1,000 followers is my type of man. with social media you know like they have social media it's not like they're like against it but they're not like they're not making it their life do you know what i'm saying like they're not again the get readies with me or like the gym shirtless picks i'm like look what's in my coffee yeah thank you no thank you guys can i give you something to look forward to yes when you when the guys that are on social media that think it's really hot to post pictures themselves with baseball caps on backwards i love that in bathrooms any any combination of this scenario in bathrooms uh shirtless sitting on the sofa

with a bear or a dead fish hanging from a hook on a boat i mean it's all the same it's like really you think that's attractive no yeah yeah no yeah no it's not my vibe again a man with under a thousand followers that doesn't make it his whole personality that's that's the the dream social media man yeah i don't walk around with my phone out all the time trying to take pictures and videos of everything and putting it on social media, that's not who I am. So I for sure don't want to date a guy who is like that. I just can't have that be his priority. I think women do it more than men, though. For sure. Women just post more, more about their lives and what they're doing. And at least that's been my experience. Yeah. But I like that. I don't, I don't mind that as long as it's

not their whole world. And there is something to say for for guys who just make it like their entire, it's their life. It's their livelihood. I don't want that. That's not the kind of life I want. Okay. Also, I will say one thing, and this is so me, if a man follows me and they are on social media, whatever,

I automatically go to who they follow. And if they are following, like, girl, girl, girl, girl, girl. Like, I just think it says so much about that person who they're following. And if it's a whole bunch of random girls, I'm like, yeah, I'm not following you back. Like, I'm just another girl in the book that you're just trying to, you know. So I always pay attention to who they follow. Oh, I'm going to have to make a note of that. I don't do very much, like, diving in Instagram, so I don't do very much.

Well, we've talked about this before, and I'm pretty sure I've said it to Kathy. People don't slide into my DMs. I don't know if that happens to you, Mercedes, but that doesn't happen to me. I get a lot of women who message me just say they followed me since the Bachelorette or they listen to our podcast or they like my mom tips or my freaking L. tips, these stupid elves. They're leaving soon, thank goodness. But I don't get a lot of men who slide into my DMs who are like, it doesn't happen. So this one guy, this one guy messaging me, I was like, okay, bold, I appreciate it. I at least appreciate it. But I don't, that doesn't happen

to me. I don't get people who slide into my DMs and message me at all. So even just this, this guy doing that, I was like, hey, this is bold. I really appreciate it. Like, way to go. I did. I told them that. I was like, I appreciate that. And then he sent me his phone number. And I was like, let's style it back a bit. Let's just, you know, slow down. I listen to way too many crime podcast. I'm not trying to, you know, so let's just. You know the solution to that. Wait, I'm going to be your mother here for a minute. I, my kids gave me this idea. I wasn't that smart myself. I got a Google phone number and a Google phone number. I'm telling you, I've turned more people on this. Again, my kids have to get the credit to. You cannot train.

If you give someone your mobile phone, believe me, they can find out your address, pretty much everything they want to know about you, but a Google phone number is untraceable. And I will tell you, my sign of can I trust a guy when I give, and I've had it happen twice, where I gave him my Google number, and it comes through as a random number. It's weird how they dial. But when they dial you, they have to say who they are. and then it rings and you can accept or deny the call. I've had two guys say to me, why are you doing that?

I said, because I'm concerned about safety and I don't know you. And if they take that badly, if they don't like that, out. Most men, when I've talked to them, they're like, oh, my God, that's so smart. I'm glad that you care about your safety. So that's what I do. And then that, you know, so that's something you might try. Or you can also do calls through Instagram, Facebook. know if those are traceable though i just don't know i don't know either but that's a really good tip

thank you for telling me that because i'm not tech savvy and i also have this dream that i'm going to walk into whole foods and be perusing the asparagus and be blown off my socks you know what i mean yeah that's how i'm dreaming that i'm going to meet some man in the wild and it's always in the airport he's not going to be in the asparagus aisle the guy that you know the hot cool dude is going to i know but the hot cool dudes are going to be in the side of b file you know they're going to be in the rib-eye steak section. Yes. I always think I'm going to, my dream is like in an airport.

I'm like, so every time in the airport, I'm like fantasizing my life. I'm like, oh, when's my husband? I did get hit on in an airport once. I did. I love that. I did. And again, I was like bold. And me, he was, I call him a kid.

He was like, I don't know. This was like when I first got divorced. So I was like, oh my God. I'm so got hot mom vibes. But he was like, I don't know, he must have been 12 or 13 years. younger than me. And he was on my flight. Like, he sat like two rows back. And I obviously was eyeballing him. But I was with my kids. So it was not on the forefront of my mind. And we had been on the same connection flights. And ultimately, in the last airport, he did. He totally came

running over and was like, hey, I'm going to shoot my shot. Like, here's my phone number. I think you're hot. I'd love to, I'd love to talk to you. And he did. He did. Bold. He did. I love that. He was so attractive to me. It ultimately didn't go anywhere. And he, and he lives like 20 minutes from me. We ended up seeing each other a couple of times and kept in touch, but it just, the age difference to you guys, I just cannot. It, our lives are so different. But for me, those bold moves, like, speak wonders. Like, shoot your shot. Why not? 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 you got 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 got you. I'm Nikki Richardson.

And this is The Girlfriends, Untouchable. Detective Roger Galoopsky 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 Galoopsky, 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. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? And what is this?

How is that not a story we all know? What's this? Where is that? Why is it wet? Boy, do we have a show for you? From Smartless Media, Campside Media, and big money players comes crimeless.

Join me, Josh Dean, investigative journalists. And me, Roy Scoville, comedian, as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. We'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws. Honestly, it feels more like

a high-level prank than a crime. Who catfishes a city? And meets some memorable anti-heroes. There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap, if you think, she's a witch. And it freaks you out. He has X-ray vision. How could I not follow him?

Honestly, I got to follow me. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless 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 cause. 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. Like 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. Hey, everyone, it's me, Katie Couric. Did you know that I recently joined Substack? It's where I'll be sharing my unfiltered conversations with the people everyone's talking about. Journalists breaking news, politicians making it, actors we can't stop watching, experts, and a few unexpected voices who just might change the way you see the world.

I'll also share what I'm reading, what I'm watching, what's making me roll my eyes, and what's giving me hope. It's a little news, a little opinion, and yes, the occasional curse word, because let's face it, have you seen the headlines lately? So if you like smart takes, deep dives, and are also thinking, WTF is happening. Search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. All of my interviews and articles are free to help everyone stay informed.

But if you want to join the group chat and hear my hottest takes, well, that's for premium users only. It's going to be so much fun. I can't wait to see you there. Again, search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. so here's the thing we're coming to the close of the year everyone we've been shooting our shots all year

but i want to know what are trying to shoot our shots i want to know it's not working it's not working but what is one word that you would use to describe your 2025 i'm going to go with rebirth i've had such a tough year with the headlines to prove it that I just am ready to be like wash me clean make me new wash me clean and make me new. I want to put all of that stuff to rest and I am ready to just like live my best life and not be followed by the grips of my past and my divorce. Oh, I love that. I love that too. That's a, that's a, I'm going to blow a candle out, make a wish for that for you too, Deanna. what about you Mercedes um I feel like transformative I feel like is a good word for me I feel like I've

really in my year of being 27 2025 I feel like I've really just like been okay with just being me and so because of that my standards have raised I can say like no this is what I believe and not have to feel like I have to over explain myself to people um so I feel like I've just yeah I feel like I've really just been, I've transformed into my own self. And I'm finally like, this is me. And if you don't like it, then see ya, you know. That's huge. Such a good place to be in, unapologetically you.

Especially at your age. I mean, most people take, they're older when they come to that conclusion that I am who I am, take me or leave me. I'm not everyone's cup of tea. All those things that we hear. That's amazing. Yay you, Mercedes. Yeah, Kathy, I was just going to say the same thing. Like, it took me years.

Mercedes to get to that point, I was still people pleasing at your age. So I think that's so awesome. I am so, so proud of you. Thank you. My word is nothing compared to you guys. My word is grateful. That's wonderful. Well, it's how I am just so grateful for my health, for all of you, truly, for the whole eye heart, bachelor, the whole community, the wonderful people I've met, my kids, my grandkids, I mean, I know that we're supposed to be grateful, but every day I wake up and I try to find one thing to start the day off, something I'm grateful about, the first thing that I can, you know, come up with. But I think we just, at least for me, I've gotten into this habit of, of until this year,

thinking, okay, this is, this is just what's supposed to happen. And this year I really realized, no, intentionally thanking God and being grateful for all the blessings in my life. That's so beautiful. I love that. Yeah. I love nothing more than to have like a full and grateful heart. And I make them, I'm such a mom, but like I was going to say, I make my kids do that.

When I pick them up from school, I'm like, hey, how was your day? And I'm like, good. And I'm like, mm-mm, you got to tell me something good. You know what I mean? We practice a rose and a thorn. They get to tell me something good. I love that. My son does highs and lows at dinner every night with his family. Same thing. I love that. Yeah, we do a rose and a thorn and then every once in a while they throw in a bud, which is something that they're looking forward to. Yeah. And it's a good practice, right? Because I think that in general, we have to be taught those things. I don't believe that we're born with all of these gifts. Communication. That is a learned skill. To have a full grateful heart. I think that is a learned skill. Like I am a glass, half.

empty person. I think that's who I naturally am. So I have to wake up and make a point to be like, oh, yeah, look at this. Like I have a, I have a roof over my head. I can pay my bills. To me, Deanna, you do not give up that vibe at all. Really? Yeah, I would agree. Not to me. You come off as a beautiful, assured someone who's working hard on herself to build a strong family who loves her kids, quite to the opposite. I look at you as someone who's glass more than half full. I mean, not empty. Thanks, Kathy. I'm grateful you guys got to meet me this year. No, I just don't believe that I was always that way.

And I am now. So thank you for saying that. We're all works in progress. That's exactly right. I love that, Kathy. Grateful. That's really, really awesome.

That is a good one to be grateful for. And like I feel like whenever I am, like when I'm, because I go through seasons, right? Like there's some seasons where I'm like so grateful. I'm always grateful, but there's some seasons where like I do maybe get down the dumps about things. but when I am like grateful and make myself like Kathy said every morning like being like thank God for this like thank you for everything it actually changes everything about your life it is insane when you are truly truly truly grateful how many good things come into your life as well you're looking for them you see them and it doesn't have to be a big thing I was grateful you're going to laugh I had a doctor's appointment this morning I was like am I going to get back in time all literally the traffic lights were green the doctor was early. I literally said the whole way home, thank you for those green lights. God,

thank you for getting me. I mean, and I just feel like my day, it started out great because I got green lights, you know? Yes. You're a freaking catch, Kathy. You too, Mercedes. I do the same thing. I joked around with you guys that when I got up, I get up extra early because I need to get my mind right before I'm with anybody else. And that's the first thing I do. I wake up and I pray and I meditate. I've got to get my mind right. I've got to put myself in the right position to show up for anyone else who has to be around me. Which is why your glasses have full, because you do that. Ben, jumping back in here, this has been such a great conversation.

You've all been so vulnerable during this pod, which is great. We've got more to chat about with these women to come, but we'll end here for now. I've been Ben. Who would you call if the unthinkable. happened. My sister was shot 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 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. I got you. I got you. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable,

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of footloos? I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimless, a true crime comedy podcast. Listen on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

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 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 killed, Gabe must untangle it. dangerous past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, it's me, Katie Couric.

Did you know that I recently joined Substack? Very exciting. It's where I'll be sharing my unfiltered conversations with the people everyone's talking about. I'll also tell you what I'm reading, what I'm watching, what's making me crazy, and what's giving me hope. If you like deep dives, hot takes, and real talk, you're in the rest of the rest of. place. Search Katie Couric on Substack and hit subscribe. I'll be there reporting live, most

likely, in my pajamas. See you there. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human.