Bristowe's Bros

Mike Johnson speaks for the first time about the announcement of Matt James as the first Black Bachelor. He shares his honest thoughts about being passed over as The Bachelor yet again and what he thinks this decision means for the franchise. 

Relive Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season on The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever and talk to some of her superstars.  We hang with Ben Zorn, Chris “Cupcake” Strandburg and a guy very close to the podcast… Jared Haibon.

 We have an update on Clare Crawley’s season and we break down her reaction to Matt James as the next Bachelor.

Get Tickets for Ben & Ashley's Virtual Live Podcast Here!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast
with i R Radio. Wow oh wow, it's another week
of the Almost Famous podcast and I am lucky enough
to be talking with my wonderful co host Ashley. I
con Eddie, Hi, Ben, Hey, Ashley, how are you? I

(00:22):
am lucky and blessed to be talking to my co
host Ben Higgins. I uh, this week is a big
week for us. We have a lot of really exciting
things to talk about, and so we just need to
dive into it right away. First off, Ashley, I know
you and I are both thrilled with this idea because
we had just kind of gotten in the rhythm of

(00:43):
being able to meet the people who have listened to
this podcast for years in person, and then obviously with
the shutdown, we haven't been able to continue that rhythm,
and so we found a way to make it work.
So here here's the deal. We announced it last week,
we'll talk about again this week. We have the Almost

(01:04):
Famous Live Yes Live podcast coming to you June four
to five pm Pacific time. Ashley tell everybody about it.
So you guys, it's basically like a cocktail party before
you get to watch Ben season re air on ABC
for a nine. Ben's gonna need some drinks to He'll

(01:27):
be having his whiskey during this UM Live digital podcast.
So for nine dollars you can join us. Um jas
will be on a couple of the girls from Ben season,
and Mike Johnson, who is appearing on our podcast today,
will also be back next week and UM you know, ladies,

(01:50):
we might be doing something like a special meet and
greet with him and with us. So if you if
you pay a little lecture, you might have a personal
meet and greet with Mike Johnson. And who knows what
can happen in a little alone time, that's right. Yeah,
so for a little extra money, so the nine dollars
get you into live podcast, then the meet and greet
will be a little extra more. But I tell you what,

(02:13):
it's gonna be worth it because Mike Johnson is gonna
have a lot to talk about. He's never been one
to shy away from saying how he feels, which he'll
be on the podcast, uh here in just a bit
today to talk about everything going on in Bachelor Nation.
But I think on the live meet and greet, I
could see him sharing a lot more details. Obviously, meeting

(02:34):
all of you beautiful people out there who are fans
of this podcast, And as Ashley just said, I'm actually
really excited because for the first time in a long time,
some for the first time since the show, some of
the women from my season are gonna be joining us
as well, just to hang out, to talk, to laugh, uh,
and to reminisce on everything that happened during our season

(02:59):
uh The Bachelor. So again, that's June from four to
five pm Pacific time. Uh. The link to the tickets.
I'll read it out loud here, but we'll also be
posting about it. It's see why a dot Live slash
channel slash almost famous. Again. We'll be posting about this
and saying a couple of times throughout the podcast, but
we're super pumped to see you all, especially celebrating a

(03:22):
night that will be nerve wracking for me to say. Actually,
before we get in the hot topics for the week,
let's take a quick break. When we come back, we're
gonna be talking all of Bachelor news, and we have
a lot of it along with the new announcement of
The Bachelor. Also, Claire Crawley season The Bachelorette is still happening,
so let's take a break and we come back. It's

(03:43):
almost fame as podcast first topic of the week, Bachelor
at Claire Crawley didn't get a heads up about Matt
jane Is being named the Bachelor, Ashley, I have my thoughts,

(04:03):
but I want to hear yours first. It's according to
US Magazine, So this isn't Claire saying it directly to
US magazine. Does it definitely sound salacious like she thinks
she's supposed to be in the loop on all Bachelor
decisions when you read the headline, But when you go
into it, it says a source says that Claire didn't

(04:24):
know this was going to happen. Um, there's nothing salacious
about this. It's a simple statement. She didn't know, and
they announced, and she found out the way that everybody
else found out, through the Good Morning America announcement. Yeah,
you know, the headline reads as it. It's true, right,

(04:44):
she didn't know, not that she should have known, not
that she's saying she's mad that she didn't know, but
she found out through Good Morning America. I do think
that if I was Claire, and I'm sure Claire is
a better person in the night, I would be a
little I would imagine there's this like dang, Like typically

(05:07):
the Bachelor, no matter what the circumstances, isn't announced before
the Bachelor at season has even started, and it's like
you get your one moment to be the lead, and
there's already another lead waiting, like typically you at least
get till after the final rows. But Claire is not
even gonna get that. But she's probably a better person

(05:28):
than I. That's just how I would feel. I know
what you're saying. To use a phrase from Tiara, perhaps
she feels like perhaps she could feel like this is
taking her sparkle away a little bit. But on the
brighter side, she doesn't have to worry about any of
her guys um being there starting a campaign to be

(05:50):
a bachelor. You know, none of her guys are going
to become bachelor. Yeah. It well, And I honestly, I mean,
do you view that I viewed as a positive for her.
I've used a positive it for her for sure, because
the guy's no going into it is Hey, I'm here
for Claire and Claire only now. There's obviously other things
that can happen, paradise and all the stuff, But at

(06:11):
least your first intention, there's gonna be this no who's
going to be the next lead in that house? And
I think that's wonderful for her. It sets her up
and and talking about setting up the process and doing
it well. Ari lion Dyke Jr. Has made headlines this
week saying the bachelor process barely works that according to

(06:31):
e Online, he's married with a kid. So I think
what he's saying here is that it doesn't work often
for a lot of people. And it was really interesting.
Jared and I were doing an interview about a week ago,
and he said that he doesn't think the process was
right for him, which is super ironic but also explains

(06:52):
why it took us, you know, four years to get
married from the time that we met. Yeah. Yeah, So
I mean, like it's not for everyone. You have to
be comfortable with moving really fast and getting engaged and
getting serious before seeing somebody in their own element. Ari says, quote,

(07:12):
I think initially being the bachelor, you trust the process
because you're like, this has worked for me, it worked
in the past because I had such strong feelings towards
someone in such a short amount of time. He said,
it's such a difficult I hate to call it process,
but it's a difficult show. And that's probably why you
find a lot of people don't make it. It's because
it's just so taxing emotionally. It's just like it's not

(07:33):
natural to have two people that you have at the
end and then have one person break up with the
other person to get engaged to the other person an
hour later. It's just so weird. No wonder why it
barely works. I feel that I get that. I agree
with them on that it's tough. It's it. It's not
shocking that it doesn't work every time. But I think

(07:54):
the caveat to all of that is it works sometimes,
and what it does it's beautiful. Then we get to
be a part of it. And to be honest, I'm
actually shocked about how many times it has worked. I mean, yeah,
And and the cool part is like, actually my grandma
follows Ari and Lauren's story like all the time because

(08:17):
she saw it play out. And I don't know she
was an Ari fan when was airing. I don't know
that side, but at least that she's a fan of
their love story now because it has been so public
and we do feel so involved and so When it
doesn't work, it's sad because we're part of that. When
it does work, we get to celebrate with it. And
it seems to be working more now than ever because

(08:40):
I think we have an understanding of what it's like.
Everybody that goes into it knows what they're getting into. Um.
You know, obviously, we just had the recent breakup of
Colton and Cassie. That is one of the first major
breakups from Bachelor Nation in a long time. In a
long time. Uh well, speaking of a couple that together,

(09:01):
Becca Koufrin speaks out about Garrett's controversial police support. That's
according to the Eon Line as well. Right, So, if
you guys remember last week, we were talking to Becca
Martinez about this post and her strong feelings about it.
We also said that we reached out to Garrett to
see if he wanted to come on the podcast. We
don't have him on this week. Nick was actually supposed

(09:23):
to have him have both he and Becca on last week,
and Nick announced I believe today that after a phone
call with Garrett they planned out the whole podcast. It
sounded good, but then about fifteen minutes after the conversation,
Garrett texted him saying he actually wasn't comfortable coming on yet,

(09:43):
he didn't feel like he was ready prepared enough to speak,
and he still wanted time to educate himself. It's uh.
And Garrett recently just had an Instagram post. I mean,
he's you know, he's he's in a position where I
do think we all need to take a step back
and become educated. Right. But I've also learned recently from

(10:09):
a little show I do on Sunday Nights called Hope
Still Wins, that one of the best way to be
educated is to have conversation, to listen, to understand. And uh.
And so I think I don't want to speak for
a gear, but I imagine right now he's doing a
lot of that and maybe NIX podcast he didn't feel
was he was ready for it, as you said, but

(10:29):
Beckett is supporting him. Uh. And you know what, call
call it what you will. It's it's not when you
get into a relationship with a partner, you need to
have them support you. Now, they don't always need to
agree with you, they don't always need to say hey,
you have it always right. But I do appreciate it

(10:53):
when in the most difficult times your partner can stand
by your side and say, hey, we're working through this
at home, We're working through this together. I think I
think we all need to take a step back and
realize that that is a good thing that Becca is
in a relationship with Garrett. That is a good thing
that she is supporting him, even if she's not agreeing

(11:14):
with him. Right. And Becca was really open about all
of us on her podcast last week and how difficult
it was, and when the podcast was released, she even
felt like she didn't do a good enough job. But
her takeaway here is she says, Garrett is my fiance
and I love him and to his core. I believe
that he's a good person. I don't aligne with and
I don't agree with his social post um. I don't

(11:39):
think that he meant it in a malicious way. I
do think it was tone deaf, and I do I
think it was the wrong time and message and sentiment.
So Becca, Geoffrin and Garrett still together. Becca is supporting Garrett.
So Ashley into some really big news before we bring
uh Mike Johnson on we gotta just announce, so I

(12:00):
assume as podcast come on this. According to People Magazine,
Matt James is the new Bachelor. Well, you guys, it
is according to everyone now, and this is not the
first announcement, but he is a new Bachelor, and it's
the first time Ben and I would be we're talking
about this. I was, of course, super happy to see
this big move in Bachelor Nation. There was a petition

(12:23):
out last week. Did we talk about the petition last week?
We did? Okay, So there's a partetition out last week
about getting the first for next season's Bachelor to be
the first black lead. And I think it was asking
for eighty five thousand signatures Ben and I signed, and uh,
I guess. A couple of days later, like the day

(12:44):
that they hit the eighty five thousand, it was like
Bachelors like, let's announce it, let's make the move, and
they announced Matt James, who is Tyler Cameron's best friend.
By the way, guys, um on Good Morning America. It
was interesting. I thought it was very very interesting that
a lot of the press headlines made it seem like

(13:06):
most Bachelor Nations should have known who Matt James was.
I think probably didn't know who he was, right, I
mean yeah, because unless you followed Tyler, you wouldn't have
known who Matt was. Yeah, and in the grand scheme
of things, say they get seven million viewers a week,
and two million people follow Tyler and one million people

(13:28):
follow Tyler closely enough to really understand their relationship. There's
a lot of people probably scratching their heads. Who is
this guy? He's very handsome, he's well spoken, but I
don't know who he is. He was casted for Claire season,
and then Claire and Matt had a little I mean,
I think it was it was a pretty small tiff,

(13:48):
but Claire wasn't thrilled that Matt was doing cameo and
kind of made a Twitter post announcement. At that point
in time, I think we all realized that Matt going
on Clear season probably wasn't this like gonna work out
well for either of them. So it makes sense now
that he is just moving on to be the Bachelor.

(14:09):
There's a lot of things to discuss here, a lot
of things I wanna hear and understand about Matt James
named the next Bachelor. In addition, all that is like,
where is Mike Johnson going to fill the role? I mean,
I think that's the biggest question that a lot of
Bachelor fans had is, Okay, why are you guys picking somebody,
a black guy that we don't know? Why didn't you

(14:31):
pick Mike Johnson, who was so beloved and such a
front runner for what became Peter season of The Bachelor.
So we had to have Mike here to give his
thoughts on all of this. Mike, welcome back to the
almost famous podcast. Thank you Ben, Thank you Ashally for
having me back. It was good, of course. Alright, Mike,

(14:54):
tell us your honest feelings. How did it feel hearing
that Matt James was going to be the first black
Bachelor on? Was it Thursday morning? Friday? I think fan
out Friday, m r, Yeah, one of those days. Matt
is a good food. That's how I felt. I felt
he is a single man's looking for love just like

(15:14):
I am, and he'll be a great bachelord. He'll be
a great lead. Was walk us through your emotions? I
was just talking about, you know, uh, Claire being a
better person than I am. Uh. You know, I remember
the days leading up to the announcement of the Bachelor,
and I knew there was other people in that conversation,

(15:36):
and I was anxious because I kind of set my
life up to be the next Bachelor, because that's what
was said to me. But I knew there was other
people still in the running. I personally would have been
a little bit. It's pretty disappointed or just like disheartened
if I wasn't announced. True, that's that's how one was

(15:57):
phil you would think. But quite honestly, I this isn't
the first time that I felt rejection in his form.
So you learned to I mean, you built up a callus, right,
I was. I'm planning on moving um here in a
few months anyway, so I was. My life has been
planned and my mom taught me the serenity prayer, and

(16:20):
I can't focus on things I cannot control, you know,
And so therefore, honestly, it is what it is. They
picked a great guy in for like thirty minutes, I
was but hurt, but after that it's you move on
with life. No, there's nothing that no one can do
to make me feel less than I know. I'm an
amazing even being an amazing person. So therefore I'm not

(16:44):
gonna let a few executive producers that didn't choose me
twice make me feel any type of way. Mike, did
you talk to producers recently about possibly becoming the Bachelor.
I wasn't given an offer. Do you didn't have any
discussions recently? I haven't had any reaching discussions. Why do

(17:05):
you think that is? What? I mean? What? But we
we obviously, uh, we're hoping for something like this to
happen this year. Yeah. Why do you think it is
that two years in a row now you have felt rejection? Man?

(17:25):
I honestly, if I knew, I would tell you. I truly,
if I knew, I would tell you. I was just
on the phone my grandma earlier. She asked me the
same question. I just really genuinely don't know. I feel
that for over a year since I've been in Bastro
nation um family, I've shown my character dating and day out,

(17:48):
and I don't feel that nothing that I show is
not conducible what a bachelor would be, you know. And
so I'm I have no idea. How did you feel
about so you've met Matt, You've met Matty and you
think that he's great bachelor material? Why would they choose him?
Who's never who the fans aren't connected to? Over you?

(18:12):
Good question? Actually, Like, if I knew, I would tell you,
I like This has nothing to do with Matt, right,
He's He's genuinely a great individual. Why have they choose Matt,
someone who isn't as known in the light over myself
for other cast members that you know have built a

(18:33):
repetation in the light of the Batchel nation. I have
no to the idea, no idea. I know that Matt
was cast to be on Claire season, but that's that's
all I really am. Has anybody reached out to you
since the announcement from the show? Yes? Yes, what that
conversation look like? Uh, that conversation was fresh, right. That

(18:53):
conversation took place on Fridday. Uh. I was golfing Friday,
So I was already like moving on my life. Literally,
I don't when I say when I say it, I
really mean I was already golfen moving on my life.
You know, I'm a single man. I want to wipe you, right.
But that conversation was raw honesty on my part as always,

(19:19):
and I was just appreciative that someone reached out. Rachel
talked this week about her feelings when Matt was announced,
and it wasn't just happiness. A lot of her was
holding back because she was saying that she feels like
this was just like the Batchelor producers checking a box

(19:40):
and being like, okay, we've had a diversity, we've given
them their first black lead. Now they can just stop,
you know, or asking for more change. Right, how did
you feel did you agree with her sentiments? I do?
I do? I think that, Um, I'm confused, was like allabastination?

(20:01):
What happened to Claire? Right? I feel like it's supposed
to be. Isn't there a certain way that this stuff
gets announced? You know? Even if it was me, I
would still say what I think Matt said, which was
the Claire season like it just the way they rolled
it out. We're talking about that being in the podcast.

(20:21):
I said, Hey, I don't I don't know how this
usually happens, but I I know he's loved Claire's season.
To go, I would be I would you know, typically
at least get through your season. It's after the final
rows and your fifteen minutes of fame is done, and
you stand up there at the end and you say, hey,
thank you all for your time of watching me. Now

(20:42):
it's on too, and they bring out somebody else and
it's now it feels I mean, what do you think, Mike, like,
do you think this whole season, Claire season will have
this like constant look to the future. Now, I hope
it doesn't. I hope it doesn't either. Every time that
I've spoken, I've always mentioned Claire because I on Friday,

(21:05):
the attention should have still be on Claire. It's her seasons,
it's she's the current bachelorette, and I just feel like
the way he did it, it's kind of is going
to make it come out to be that way. Man.
I mean, it's not fair to her. I love what
you said on your Instagram about her. You're like, Claire,
baby girl. We still are so excited about watching you.
It was so sweet and I'm gonna end this on

(21:27):
my behalf. I don't know if Ben has any more
questions With a silly question. A lot of fans of
notice them back and forth between you and Claire on
social media. Perhaps a little flirtation. Would we ever be
able to get to see the beloved Mike Johnson joined
Claire season. Well, look, it could be a possibility. Let's

(21:49):
let's start that petition now. If you're down, you guys
would make a hot couple. That's a I mean that's
just giggles, Mike. That's all we got at that one
is giggles. That means there's something. There's something there when
I giggle. When I giggle, I know I don't want
to say what I'm feeling, all right, fair enough? Uh,

(22:16):
but Mike, I I do think you've handled this, and
you know I'm not. I guess I don't know why
I'm the one that to say this, but I do
think you've handled this better than than most, especially right
away coming out and saying, you know, don't feel bad
for me, you are moving forward. Um, but I do
I think, I mean, I think when you can, I

(22:37):
know it's not now all a bachelination is wondering why
not you? And if you were to have any assumptions, speculation,
anything that you would understand, why not you? Whenever you
understand what you will you share it with us. Well,
I think we're just all kind of like, what's going
what's going on here? Again? I literally just boys do

(22:59):
and I on a bad patty, Yo'll talk you know
else around. I wish I knew the answer to that.
I truly do. I can speculate like anyone else. Um,
I'm I'm not seeing nobody. Um, I mean great shape.
I think I'm a decent looking guy. I know that

(23:19):
I was one of America's fan favorites. I mean, I'm
professionally in a good place. I'm financially free, I live
by myself. I mean, I don't know. I really don't know. Well,
what are the next steps in your life? Besides possibly
we were going on clar season. You know, when I

(23:45):
set my mind to something, it often happens. Anyway. Okay,
so you have a book coming out and you're you're moving.
Were you moving? Tell us about all this. I'm thinking
about moving to Austin, you know. Yeah, it's a great city.
And I'm always at the airport when COVID not going on,
so I'm right there by the airport. Every awesome as well.

(24:06):
But yes, I have a book coming out. When I
was on Hannah Brown season The Bacherette, I opened up
a little bit about a miscarriage that me and my
ex had, and you know, we talked about it on
your Guys podcast, which I thank you so much. I
still get dems about it. And at the time I

(24:27):
was flooded with people telling me their stories, and quite honestly,
I was responding back to everyone, or not every single indivision,
but I was responding to so many people that it
just continued to flow out of me, and I wrote up.
I call it a guide in a journal to self
love and to how to obtain that. I mean, the
book is, like I said, it's uh, it's soft enough

(24:48):
to open open you in, bring you in, and strong
enough to hold your tears. And it's parent enough to
change your life. And so that's literally my aim with
this book. Let's come out, when does it come out
at this fall, let's fault and look forward to it. Well,
we also have something to look forward to with you, man. Uh,

(25:09):
we were We're not saying goodbye to you, and I
don't think anybody will be. Uh. Next week in celebration
of I mean, the monumental occasion that my season of
The Bachelor with uh this some of the best women
of all time, it's re airing on ABC, and uh,

(25:30):
I'm just thrilled about it. It's the cool It's just
the best thing for a relationship. But anyways, because it's airing,
we have nothing to stop. We can't stop it. You're
kind enough to come join Ashley and I on our
almost famous live podcast. In addition to that, we're gonna
be selling some tickets, as we mentioned earlier, to do

(25:50):
a little meet and greet with the three of us. Uh, Mike,
what are you hoping to get out of this meet
and greet? Maybe some love? I want? I Ope? So man, well,
we're super pumped for it. Again, anybody out there listening, Uh,
continue to tune in. We'll share the link and the
information to not only the live podcast, but also in

(26:12):
addition to that, how you can get access to the
meet and greet with Mike Johnson. And then I mean,
I guess Ashley and I will be there, but you
really are there to meet Mike Johnson. Yeah, we're definitely
making you the headliner right now because you have far
more of a draw. Yeah, that's right. Um, Mike, are
you pumped for that? Are you pumped to meet these fans?

(26:33):
I can't wait. I'm so excited for that. It'll be
so fun too. That's just what I hated about COVID
right now, because I want to get out there and
meet everyone. So this is gonna be a great thing
for us, all three of us, to be on. Actually,
you're definitely a headliner. Thank you. Yeah, I'm just we're
all like tied up and married, you know, and it's
way more fun to meet single people from Batchelor Nation,

(26:57):
because if you're single, you want to meet the singles.
You know, hopefully not for long. You know, I'm tired.
I'm tired of being a single forever. I got great hair.
Did you say you have great hair? Gray hair? Oh?
I was gonna say you do have great hair, and
I like your hair at this leg if that's weird
for you to say that, the quarantine cut is great

(27:17):
for you. Thank you, appreciate unbelievable. What Hey, anybody out
there listening, make sure you tune in later on Mike.
We appreciate you, man, thanks for for sharing with us.
I know this is uh, I mean, hey, friend a
friend here. Um, I know this last week had did
not be easy, would not be the word. It's just

(27:40):
a little disheartening. And uh and again you just handled
it better than than I ever would. And you just
handled it in a way that uplifted Claire and Matt
um And so thanks for representing Bachelor Nation. Well it
helps us all out. So thank you. Yeah, that really
was a beautiful Instagram post it baby smile. I appreciate that.

(28:02):
I think one of the king said, the best judgment
man when he's in controversy and the way that he
acts afterwards is how you should see him. And so
I really appreciate that. Then Hey, no problem, Mike. Hey,
we'll talk to you next week. We'll see you next week.
Looking forward to a buddy anything, uh, anything anywhere anybody
can check you out. Make sure that you go get
the book. Mike Johnson's book will be coming out this fall,

(28:23):
also following on Instagram, and uh, and we'll be seeing
you next week. But thanks, see buddy. If you're looking
for tickets or the meat and greet tickets, make sure
you go to c y a dot Live, slash channel,
slash almost famous. So we heard from Mike. Now there

(28:55):
are a ton of quotes out there from Bachelor Nation
responding to the news of Matt, And I do want
to say that, like I said that Matt was random
of random choice, I just mean he was far more
of a random choice than than Mike, who has been
a fan favorite in the past, you know what I mean. Like,
Matt does seem like such a nice guy, and I

(29:16):
got so stoked about him being the Bachelor after um,
seeing Hannah's response. How did you see Hannah's response on Instagram? Ben, Yeah,
definitely she was wasn't cute? Yeah, it was really awesome.
And I mean we've watched you and I have been
able to watch my Matt and UH from a distance
a lot of people have, and he is he has

(29:39):
that like charisma that is it's just like it feels
fun to be around. And so I'm excited to watch
that UH displayed on TV because it's been a while,
including myself, where we've had somebody that, even from a distance,
is so charismatically you're just like, I want to know
that person, right, And seeing Hannah's reaction me think of

(30:01):
kind of like the time that Nick was announced. It's
like when that like older brother figure is announced as
the Bachelor and you know that they deserve it so
much and you know that they're like such a good
person and you just want to see them like find
their happily ever after, So seeing I like kind of

(30:21):
just I don't know, you could just trust that somebody
is so good and decent after seeing their friends react
in such a giddy way. And I mean, this is
a huge announcement for the Bachelor. I mean, I know
that we can we can criticize timing, we can say, wow,
this feels that you need your reaction, Like, that's not

(30:42):
my place to say say any of that, you know,
But what I will say is this is a big
announcement for the Bachelor, and so you know, if they're
going to make this announcement when they did, then they're
going to make sure that he is like an outstanding
human like they This is a big deal for them,
and so we can get excited about the fact that

(31:05):
now we have a bachelorette season to look forward to,
but also a really exciting Bachelor's season with a extremely
rutable lead. Yeah. I'm really excited to get to know him.
That's kind of fun, and it's you know, it's also
going to be fun is seeing somebody who hasn't been
through the process before, has no idea what to expect
to be thrown into the position of the lead. I'm

(31:27):
kind of scared for him. That sounds awful. Scared. All right,
let's read some quotes. This is exactly what Hannah Brown said,
and you guys didn't see her Instagram story. Just what
the heck? Matt James is the Bachelor? I literally just
woke up and I could not be more excited. You
all should be freaking excited because he's like the best

(31:47):
human being in the entire world. Go ahead, get started
making your number one Matt James a fan t shirts printed,
because I'm definitely gonna be wearing one, y'all. This is
amazing and so proud of you. Matt jar To What
the crap it's that was really fun? Wells said this
exclamation point, great move, Bachelor, ABC, But I also kind

(32:12):
of want to see Claire and Matt get into a
fight night one. About his cameo account, Sean Lowe said, awesome,
looking forward to seeing a season without a recycled a
Bachelor to Kayla Quinn then uh from uh our season Bachelor?
Yeah of our season of the Bachelor react and said

(32:33):
after forty seasons of The Bachelor, today's news is a
momentous step forward as Matt James was just announced as
the first black Bachelor. It makes me feel so proud
to be a part of this Bachelor family that listens
and stands up for representation. Literally just heard the news
and want to shout it out from the rooftops. I
want to applaud, not only Bachelor ABC for taking action,

(32:54):
but also the hard work from Bachelor Diversity for getting
eighty five thousand signatures that advocates for change. As a
daughter of biracial parents, watching cross cultural diverse love unfold
feels deeply personal and inclusive. I have heard wonderful things
about this handsome man of faith who is generous and kind.

(33:16):
That is from Kayla Quinn and I touched on Rachel's
response earlier, saying that you know, basically she was hoping
that she hopes that this is not just a new
jerk reaction to the movement. So we're going to roll
the clip that Rachel posted on her Instagram story to
be very clear. And I can't believe I actually have
to explain myself on this. I am happy that Matt

(33:38):
James is the Bachelor, and I congratulated him, and I
wish him the very best and support him on this
new journey and this new venture for him. But at
the same time, I also don't want the people, the
eighty five thousand plus people who signed the petition to
forget what else it is that you're fighting for. That's
the only thing I'm pointing out. But I also do

(33:59):
stand by the act that I don't like how they
rolled him out. I feel like it takes away from
who he is with the timing of the announcement. I
don't think that's fair for Matt James, and I don't
think that does him justice as to what he represents
as a black man and what he can bring to
this role. Now that's all the quotes we have surrounding
Matt James. Ashley and I want to be clear, we

(34:20):
are jacked about Matt James being named the next Bachelor.
We think it's gonna be awesome. But again, in the
words of Mike Johnson, we haven't forgotten about you, Claire baby.
So we're excited for clear season. Still no update on
when and how filming will happen, but it will happen

(34:41):
at least. That is the most recent updates from the
Bachelor franchise. Hey, we have a really exciting rest of
the podcast for you. We're gonna start interviewing some of
the fan favorites from Caitlin Bristow season of The Bachelor
et which is airing Monday night on ABC. So stay

(35:02):
with us. We'll be back, but let's take one break.
When we come back. We have been Zorne from Caitlyn
season of The Bachelorette. Alright, guys, and now it's time
to discuss me watching my husband make out with my friend.

(35:25):
I keep saying this because this is a huge joke,
like how weird is it? It's so weird. But it
didn't make me feel like it didn't have any pings
of jealousy or anything like that. Okay, fine, There's one time,
and that was during their first kiss, and it looked
really good. It was a really good first kiss, and

(35:45):
I go, Jared, why don't you put your hand on
my face like, you know, like caressed like the whole
cheek jawline area. And he goes, I used to do
that with you. Thanks. Wow, two and half years in.
That was the only time I felt like really jealous.
It's was like Jared was such more of a reserved
guy back then. I never when I watch it, his

(36:07):
um politeness and how much of a gentleman he is
really shows through, which is still of course true to
this day. But I think of him as so much
more like passionate and a little bit more outspoken than
he came across on Caitlin season. You can tell that
he was not out of his shell yet Yeah he wasn't,
I mean. And it's also why I think Jared and

(36:29):
I got along so well during that season, is you know,
he and I both were kind of fish out of water.
These other guys seem to kind of like catch on
pretty fast, including some of the guys that will be
interviewing today, But for Jared and I, there was many
times where Jared and I would sit back in the
back and just be like, I don't know what to
do right now, Like I don't know how I fit
into this. I'm sure Jared will tell you the story

(36:50):
when he comes on a little bit later in the podcast,
but he always remembers this time where you and him
were an a sauna for like an hour and it
was the first like you weren't miked up and your
top four and you just couldn't believe how far two
guys like you got in this competition. I'm like, oh, yeah,
to two real, two real bad guys to look at

(37:13):
or to have a conversation with. You guys just totally
downplay yourselves, which is totally ridiculous. I remember that. Yeah,
I can't wait to talk to you about that. That That
is one of my favorite behind the scenes moments that
Jared and I literally sat in the steam room for
an hour just talking life. Well, actually, after watching Caitlin
season back, what do you think about these reruns and

(37:35):
the three hour edited versions. Are you into it? Do
you like it? I don't know. I feel like I
like them because it's fun for me as somebody who
was on the show to get nostalgic to see my friends,
just to see like where all these relationships got their roots.
But I also feel like, um, you don't like get

(37:57):
to like sink into it. It's good for taking your
ripped down memory lane, but I don't know that it
would be interesting for people who have never seen these seasons,
Like you're not going to get attached to characters. But
if you want to look back and be like, oh
my god, I remember that, I remember that so fun,
then they're great. But if you want to watch a
season and feel emotionally invested, just go on HBO, Max

(38:18):
or Amazon iTunes and watch the whole thing. Yeah, you
know the I'm glad they're doing it. I'm glad this
is something they've invested into to put this content out
here during this time where it's so difficult to have
new content, but it is something that Bachelor World's wanted

(38:40):
for a while. I mean I have heard many times
like I've got an emails and messages. Can they start
replaying seasons? You know, the edited version. I think you
can watch a whole season in three hours. I do
watch Caitlin's season back, and it's it's hard for me
to watch because this is why. Actually Caitlin was such
an amazing Bachelor ape and there were so many amazing

(39:02):
people on that season. At least I'm biased too because
I think there was so many great guys and there
is so much drama and so many storylines there aren't
able to be showed and shown that made this season
so much more unique than really any season ive ever seen.
Like there were things that were wildly dramatic in the house.
There were storylines that were really really like monumental for us,

(39:26):
as as contestants that were never even shown on the
big season because there wasn't enough time. So then you
cut that down to three hours, and it feels like,
can this short edited version do Caitlin Bristow justice? And
I don't think it can because it was so good
so often it was just the best probably the best

(39:49):
season I've ever watched. But you know, I'm also a
little biased because I know more of you guys. There's
more friends in that season and Chris Soul season than
I have you know, for many other season And you know,
I'm too invested to really give it a neutral rating.

(40:09):
But you know it was one of the shining moments
that they did show. What's that? It was? Your sex
said class, Oh geez, it's always been one of your
favorite seasons. I know, so good, it's so funny. That was. Yeah,
there's so much to that. We'll talk about that here
just a little bit, Ashley. We promised it. So let's

(40:29):
start bringing on these contestants. We've got Ben Zorne from
Caitlin Bristow season of The Bachelor at Welcome to the podcast. beIN.
What's up guys, Well, you were the man on Caitlin
season that sent my husband to the emergency room. Let's
talk about that boxing date. How Jared's very proud still

(40:52):
that he like got up to the finals and he
was boxing you, somebody who has a lot of size
on him. What did you do to like you knock
him in the head? Was that the rules? It was
like the first day pretty much the first or second
day that we all met each other. So just getting
in the ring with everybody was was was wild. I mean,

(41:14):
I never thought that I'd be in the ring with
with Jared and all that stuff. I mean, usually we're
in different weight classes so the fact that we were
in there together was kind of funny. But um, I
feel terrible because I mean, like I said, I just
met Jared at that point and like his only concussion.
I don't want to fight this guy. I like this guy.
But now it was fun. It was a lot of fun.

(41:35):
I remember that day. Uh. I also got knocked out
pretty good on that day too by Jared. Actually, Um
took a nicer right hook to the to the chin.
Then what's your feelings leading up to this week knowing
that Caitlin's season was gonna air? Um, honestly, I was excited. Man.

(41:57):
H This was a point in my life that I
looked back very fondly of. You know, it was very
memorable for me. Um. I made so many great friends
from the show, and so looking back, you know, it's
it's gonna be kind of cool to Uh. It was
kind of cool to see everything and see everything unfold again.
Did your fiance feel weird that, like America was gonna

(42:19):
watch you be romantic with another girl? She was. She
was a little weird at first, but then she I mean,
she saw this season, so it's not like it was
anything new that she was seeing. Um. I think in
the beginning she was a little uncomfortable, but now she
knows Caitlin. They're good friends. Uh, and so it ended
up being totally fine. She was, she was fine with it.

(42:40):
So funny. Did you guys get it was your wedding
affected by COVID? Oh? Yeah, we were supposed to get
married on July twenty and now, um, were actually end
up pushing the next year. We don't have a date
set yet, but um, but we're gonna We're gonna end
up pushing the next year. I'm so sorry. That sucks. Yeah,
I know there's a lot of people have been affect
to buy it, and we're just one of the many.

(43:02):
Well we you know, as we saw, we didn't get
to see a lot of you on Caitlin's recap show. Uh.
And we've talked to you a couple of times since then,
and especially at our live podcast in San Francisco. You
are engaged you were supposed to be married here in
the next month and a half. You're not doing that.
But one thing we uh we missed the recap show

(43:26):
is just how much of a connection you and Caitlin
had and then you really chose. Uh, you know, you
haven't participated in too much Bachelor esque stuff since then. Yeah,
if you can look back on this time, going back,
you know, four and a half years ago, what what
were the feelings like entering into this Night one? Because

(43:46):
I kind of felt like the Night one. I kind
of felt like I was going to Night one as
Caitlyn season was about the arrogant. Yeah, no, I agree, Um,
I mean going to Night one, I was. I was nervous,
I was sweating bullets. I didn't really know to expect
at that point. I hadn't really seen too many seasons
of it, um, but uh, it was definitely something that Um,

(44:07):
I was just excited to see what happened, you know,
I was just excited to go for it. And you know,
they didn't really show too much of of my connection
with Caitlin. But it's one of those things where it's
you feel like your connection with with the with the
main lead. Um, you have a certain way that you
feel about that person, and she doesn't really tell you

(44:27):
how she feels, and so, um, I felt like we
had a good connection. Um I felt like everything was
was great at the point when I got set home,
which I was a little bummed about. But looking back
on it again, you can definitely tell that she had
song or connections with some of the other guys, you
being one of them. Um, But it was definitely Uh,
It's definitely something I looked back on finally, and I
had just had a blast with everybody, including Caitlin. What

(44:50):
shook me watching it back way more than it did
when it originally aired was the fact that there was
two bachelorettes. It's just so almost some a misogynistic. It's
so crazy that that we were all. I know that
some people weren't okay with it, but I just feel
like there would be outrage that that happened today, just
five years later. Who did you guys vote? But that

(45:12):
that being said, what did you guys vote for? M
I voted for for Caitlin. Um I had a I
think I've talked about this before on Your Guys Show,
But um, I had a great connection with uh with
britt right off the bat. We had a great conversation,
but I just felt like there was more depth to
Caitlin and I was excited to learn more about Caitlin.

(45:34):
So that was intriguing to me. Ben, you voted for
Caitlin too, I did. I went into it actually very interested.
Uh in um Britt. I really thought that she was
going to be it, And after like ten minutes, which
is wild with each of them, I was just more

(45:56):
and more convinced that Caitlin was going to be somebody
who I be able to get to know easier. I
felt like our conversation flowed. I felt like she was funny.
I felt like she was kind of a it's for
lack of a better term, like one of the producers
before the night one was like, Hey, in this process,
one of the beautiful things is you can take risks,

(46:16):
like you can date somebody that you typically wouldn't date.
And Caitlin was that for me, and I'm really glad
that happened. I think Britt would have been amazing. But
I did vote for Caitlin based on just that ten
minute first conversation that we had. Yeah, I agree, I
mean that's kind of all you have to go off.
At that point, you really are going off a ten

(46:37):
minute conversation and trying to figure out who you want
to date. Caitlin asked me the the other day, Ben, what
was the most awkward memory from her season on the
Bats ry. I know mine. Mine was my entrance. I
literally said two words like I couldn't even speak. I said,
nice to meet you, and by and I mean that's
how I mean, that's exactly how it went down. What

(46:58):
was your most awkward memory? Who? Um? I think my
entrance was probably just as bad as yours. I don't remember.
I remember walking in the walking in the door and
being like, all right, well I'm getting sent home. I
made a fool of myself. Um. For me, it was
um awkward. Probably wrapping on stage. I think I battled.

(47:22):
I rapped battled Tanner on stage in New York City,
and I was I don't think I've ever felt more
like a fish out of water in my life. I
can't imagine Tanner wrapping. And I don't think they showed
it this time around either. Probably for the best, definitely
for the best. Well, hey, Ben, you're the man. I
appreciate you coming on here. Ashley and I have always

(47:44):
been big fans of years, We wish you the best
with your upcoming wedding. I know it's not ideal, but
thanks for taking some time in joining us here today
to talk to us and everybody out there listening. Of course, man,
thanks for having me. Love you guys, and I'll be
seeing you guys at the wedding when we were schedule.
We'll see then see you guys up next. We have

(48:05):
somebody who is charming, lovable. Uh. He and Caitlin just
had some amazing moments, some really passionate kisses. Uh. It's
it's it's our one and only. Ashley's husband, Jared. Jared,
come on that almost famous podcast how is everybody doing? Hello? Well,

(48:27):
when you were waiting for you to get on, we
were talking about how crazy it was that Britt and
Caitlin ver two bachelorettes together. And I'm thinking about how
normal rejection on the show feels, which is like one
handsome man or one beautiful woman who you've developed feelings
for is rejecting you in front of the nation. But

(48:48):
with Britt, she had a vote of like thirty men
who voted against her. Like that is far more heartbreaking,
and it's going to affect your self esteem way more.
Can you believe? Can you believe that we did this?
Oh you're asking me to comment on that? Damn all right? Uh?

(49:09):
I mean not all thirty guys voted against her. From
from reading the room, it was probably Caitlin. And also
it was stupid. You have to h incredible women, you know,
both beautiful, smart, both like out of almost all of
our leagues, and like we're supposed to vote on the

(49:29):
girl that we want to date. It was the stupidest
thing I've ever had to endure, which I guess says
you know that I'm very lucky in life. But it
was just it was ridiculous. This was before Bachelor in
Paradise was like a thing like this wasn't bachelor going
on Bachelor in Paradise wasn't like a coveted position. I'm
wondering if it was more so leading up to that,
whether it would just be like or Caitlin would have

(49:51):
just been like, no, no, I don't want to battle,
I'll just go on Bachelor in Paradise. No, you always
want to be the bachelor. If if producers were like, hey,
you have a out of being bachelorette, you take it.
I mean, it just they shouldn't have had two girls
be a bachelorette. It hasn't aged well. I think the
show would agree with that. And that's all I gotta say.

(50:12):
Oh you know who I voted for it by the way,
nice Shirrett. Do you just get off? And he voted
for Britt as he's did you? Yeah, as you stayed
in the episode. He looks like he just golfed. I'm jealous.
Uh what was I saying, Oh, Brett, Yeah, I voted
for Well listen, like I said, it was just talk
about what you said on my Instagram today. Uh, it
was just like I said, I mean, you're voting for
two incredible women. And then I would talk to Caitlin

(50:34):
and she was awesome, and I would talk to Britt
and she was awesome, and it was just like I
walked into the room. And then the reason I voted
for Britt was because before the show started, I felt
like I would have more of a connection with Britt,
and then ironically, when I met them both, I had
more of a connection with Caitlin. So like that, and
I was going back and forth. Then I was like, well,
I guess I'll go with my initial reaction, which was
stupid because I went off my reaction before I met

(50:56):
them in person. Brett was also so your type stereotip
quick like, that was your safe spot, your comfortable zone. Yeah,
that's a first statement, Jared. Let's flash through this season,
which was Caitlin's season. We had talked about early on
and we hitted at it. We've brought it up on
the podcast before, but one of my favorite memories from

(51:19):
our time of the Bachelorette was you and I were
the final four. The other two men were away. You
and I had access to a steam room. We also
knew that cameras and audio equipment cannot make it into
the steam room, so we went in there to have
a conversation, one of the first real conversations we could

(51:40):
have in a long time. We sat in this room
for no less than an hour talking about how wild,
absolutely wild, this last few months have been. Our listeners
out there probably wondering, like, what did this mean to you, Jared,
to be in a steam room for an hour with me?
What was like? Well, I think you and I bonded

(52:02):
in that moment because both you and I were on
the same page from the very beginning. Which was what
the hell is going on? And what are we doing
right now? And what's about to happen? And then you know,
as you guys know, you're always miked up. You're always
on camera, even when you know a lot of things
don't get aired, but you're still on camera. And so
this was the first time where Ben and I really

(52:22):
were not miked up, not on camera, and just able
to actually talk about things we were afraid to say
on camera, which was, Okay, what's going on? Are like?
Because you know, you're always like, oh no, I'm I'm ready,
and I'm I'm fully invested. And while you are and
Ben and I were, it was also at the same
point like are we ready? Are is this? Are we

(52:43):
good to go? Are are we making the wrong decision?
This is happening so fast? Um? And so that was
like the first time you and I were able to
just like really say that and feel comfortable saying that.
It was like therapy. Plus, you know, for all the
listeners out there, I got to see Ben in his
boxer's sweat. I'm sure that was a very nice image
for a lot of women out there. Uh, it was.
It was a good time. That was one of my

(53:04):
favorite moments. It really was mine too, No, it was,
and you're right. I remember looking at you being like, hey,
I think I'm ready to get engaged, but yeah, am
I crazy? Like? But we we were like, do you
know Caitlin has been a name? Because I don't. I
do remember that. That's actually sad uh, Jared, I've always

(53:25):
appreciated the way you've handled humor and humility. It wasn't
able to be shown on the recap show, but as
much as it should have been. But when it came
to Caitlin, do you feel like your connection with her
was a lot because she's always made us lap. Do
you feel like it was a lot of the laughing
back and forth, uh, kind of more humorous connection. Yeah,

(53:50):
oh absolutely, And thank you for saying that. Bro. You know,
I feel the exact same way towards you and Ben.
You're someone I've definitely looked up to since the day
I met you. But going to Caitlin, Yeah, our action
was definitely more. Well, there was romance, it was a
romantic relationship. It was far more based in friendship because
we would just laugh constantly. And I remember before the
rose ceremony where I got sent home the cocktail party

(54:14):
was canceled that night, and I remember before the cocktail
party got canceled, I was like, I really need to
talk to Caitlin because every time we hang out, we
never talked about the future or like marriage or kids.
Were always just present in the moment and laughing, which
is a good sign. But also I'm'm not sure how
I feel about it, Like I feel like I need
to be like, hey, is this something that's gonna last?

(54:36):
Uh so, Uh, I agree with you. Was definitely a
rooted in friendship, and I do wish that I could
quote Dumb and Dumber with him like Caitlyn did. It's
my it's my fall back. It's it's it's the only flow,
like major flow in our relationship. You don't get my humor,
and it makes me sad. Like I quote Billy Madison,

(54:56):
I quote Happy Gilmore, Dumb and Dumber Anchorman and A
She's like, what the hell are you talking about anchor
man quotes? You get my incorment quotes. Sometimes it's pretty good. Yeah,
I don't watch boy movies. I'm silary Jared. We asked
Ashley this earlier if it was awkward for her to
be married and watch her husband make out with her friend.

(55:20):
I want to ask you the same question. Is it
awkward for you to watch yourself make out with your friend? Now?
It was kind of awkward to watch everybody make out
with each other, you know, because like I saw you
make out with her, and I'm like, it's like, it's
like watching your friends make out, you know how, Like

(55:41):
you're at a party and your your two friends that
you've been friends with for years, like drunkenly make out
and you're like, oh, that's just weird to see visually.
And it was the same thing here because we've been
through so much history now, like watching myself with Caitlin,
you with Caitlin even like it wasn't that weird with Nick,
I guess, but um, like Cupcake and it like I guess,

(56:03):
we didn't see t Order Tanner kissed her at all.
I don't know they did. He did, he did, they said,
he said they never aired it. Um, but it was
definitely like worse watching myself kiss Caitlin with Ashley because
she because you put your your hand on her cheek,
and you don't do that to me anymore. I do sometimes,
not as much as I used to, But you know,

(56:25):
it's you know, we're married for almost a year. Oh,
I'll put the hand there. You know that. I like that. Listen. Um,
what if Chris souls this season was airing, you had
to watch my sloppy kisses with him? Would that make
you feel weird? You just laugh? I think it would
definitely make me cringe where you like, wasn't your thing

(56:49):
with kissing Chris, Like you swallowed his mouth or something like? Yes, Jared,
I don't know it was. They were. They weren't the
most attractive kisses, but I really got a downpat with
you in Paradise. Those were not Yeah, those weren't awkward
at all. So I give myself a lot of credit
for that one. Well, Jared, Uh, I love you. Ashley
obviously loves you. Uh. It was really fun to watch

(57:12):
you back and to see you shine once again. Thanks
for coming on here, Thanks for catching us up on
everything going on in your life. But once again, man,
it was I watched this season and I'm I watched
this season back. I've been looking at pictures today just
uh of the season to reminisce on it all. And Uh,

(57:34):
it's it's incredible that the people that you meet through
this experience along the way, and it made me have
a sense of joy about the show that I've always felt,
but it's turned more into like a memory for me.
But reminiscing on this made me smile because of the
pictures of you and I and our friendship. So I
appreciate you, buddy, and thanks for coming on here, dude.

(57:54):
Of course, yeah, I have. The feeling is absolutely mutual.
Mutual love you, buddy, Like it's cool, uh for quickly, Yeah,
just like when you think back where it all started,
and now like Ben, you're someone that spoke at mine
and Ashley's wedding, uh and obviously you know Nick. Who
would have thought Nick would have at the wedding and
and delivered a speech during our ceremony and like, good god. Um,

(58:18):
So it's pretty incredible. Love you too, buddy, Love you,
Love you my wife, love you my husband. Thanks Jared,
one of our friends. He was also Ashley and Jared's wedding.
One of my favorite people from Caitlin Bristow's season and
one of Ashley's favorite people as well, and also I
think one of Caitlin's favorite it's Chris, doctor Chris Strandberg.
Welcome to the almost famous podcast. Great to be here, Chris,

(58:42):
I need to come in and visit you because I
think I need INVISI line. Actually, actually, your teeth are perfect.
That's a conversation for another time. One of the most
disappointing things about This Bachelor Greatest Season's ever episode was
that they didn't show you rying kind of hysterically on
a cliff. I can't believe it was the best TV

(59:05):
ever made. I'm on a cliff, tears of sadness, a
puddle of disappointment underneath my face, and they didn't show it.
And you had to watch Caitlin, uh take off in
that helicopter. Yes, and you were stranded there on that cliff.
I was stranded there on the cliff, so stranded because

(59:28):
they were filming it. They actually had a second helicopter,
but I couldn't take either helicopter home, so I just
watched my hopes and dreams fly away. Wait. This is
a funny thing, though, because people don't understand this about
the show, and it's a question we could ask a lot.
So it is true. Caitlin did fly away on a helicopter.
It probably took her a good hour to get back
to the hotel. You had to then drive How long

(59:50):
does the drive take? So I drove in the back
of a small van and it took three and a
half hours. You know that the exactly that happened to
me in the bad Lands. I watched Chris leave and
I was like, you know, once I recovered from the dumping, Um,
I go, okay, so where's our helicopter? Right, They're like,
oh no, the van is years and it was a

(01:00:13):
three hour drive back. Yours was even more desolate than mine. Actually,
at least you got to see the beauty that was Ireland, right.
It was gorgeous. It's always one of the it's like, uh,
it is one of the sad parts. Is it really
is like a really sad moment and then like reality
hits you and you go crap, Like I could be

(01:00:35):
eight hours from any type of civilization or any airport,
and the lead who just dumped me is flying high
through the sky and we'll be back in no time
for dinner. Chris. We do remember this crying scene. And
just because we didn't get to see a lot of
you on the recap didn't mean that you didn't have
a big part in this season. You were in shambles.

(01:01:00):
Friend about this breakup? How long did that last? After? Like,
how long did your feelings for Caitlin Linger I was
in shambles. I would say that the the feelings for
King Kate lingered about two weeks and then I got
back and I was like, you know what, I know

(01:01:20):
who the winner is going to be, and that's the
right match. At at the moment, Caitlyn and I were
just friends. When you're wrapped up in the bachelorette world,
every you know, all the emotions are riding high, but
you're also isolated, and so this becomes your one central focus.
When you get back to reality, you're like, wait a minute,

(01:01:40):
I'm okay, right, okay. You made a grand introduction though
with the cupcake car. That really will be in bachelor
montages for the rest of the show's broadcast whenever that
may be right. Talk to us lasting and depression. Talk

(01:02:01):
to us about how the idea came about to have
you being a cupcake car. Well, my whole thing was
how are people going to find me interesting on this show.
I'm a dentist, and to me, that's something that most
people kind of dread going to the dentist and he's
probably some guy who's pretty nerdy, which is true, but um,

(01:02:23):
I needed to stand out, So what's better than to
think of a bad like dental. So I decided to
do something quote very sweet for Caitlin and at the
time for it, which was to roll up in a cupcake.
And uh, I thought that that was going to be
the end of it. But then, of course Tanner decided
to start calling a cupcake and then it's stuck all
the way to five years later. I know I kill

(01:02:46):
that because, like, we know that you don't like being
called cupcake, and yet it's what I call you. It's okay,
you know, I understand. I'm blessed and grateful that I
got to be a part of the experience. I got
to meet the perfect Ben and I have friends. So
if that's my name, then so be it. Man, it
is it is wild to look back on this. We've

(01:03:06):
been talking to Ben Zorn and Jared and then myself
kind of about this this season, and I asked Jared
the same question, is it weird looking back now after
the recap has aired and seeing the pictures that have
kind of surfaced from the contestants, what are your emotions
like looking back on this time in your life, it

(01:03:29):
was I mean it's serious nostalgia. I mean that was
a time when we all took a break from our
phones and from reality and we were just present and
we were up against this adventure. We had no idea
what it would amount to. You know, Instagram was not
really a part of the show until you know, probably

(01:03:50):
actually season and then our season. We're the first kind
of era. So really it was just a special time.
We made friends, we got to go on with this
crazy adventure, and for me it was all positive. I
mean I didn't partake in much of the drama. Then
I don't think you really did either, so you probably
just had a all positive experiences during the filming. So Chris,

(01:04:11):
you know, didn't end up with Caitlin, became really good
friends with Caitlin, cleaned Caitlyn's teeth many times. Um. But
now has found another love in his life. And you've
been with her for almost two years now, huh yeah,
coming up on two years, um back and I've been
dating for year and a half, almost two years, So

(01:04:33):
it's been great. She's a a wonderful person, really just
a positive kind heart, and you know it's with opening
my gental practice. It's been kind of like tough, working
a lot, but she's always been very supportive and I'm
very grateful for Well, Chris, We're happy for you, man.

(01:04:53):
It's always good to see that smiling face. Years still,
in my opinion, the best looking man to ever come
through the Bachelor franchise. Dr Chris Strandberg, thank you for
joining us on the Almost Famous podcast. We look forward
to talking to you soon. That's funny that you say that, Ben,
because I feel like Cupcake is definitely the person that

(01:05:17):
Jared holds as like the standard of good looking in
the franchise. He's She's like that guy is really good looking,
but like, is you better looking than Cupcake? And then
it's always a debate he's such a good looking dude. Well, actually,
this has been nothing but fun for me to see
friends and to reminisce with friends. Uh. It's always great

(01:05:37):
to celebrate really awesome people. And this week we are
celebrating Caitlin Bristow because I think she is a terrific human,
a terrific bachelorette. And we can't leave this podcast without
saying congratulations to Caitlin because at the end of this episode,
we find out that Caitlin Bristow is getting her dream.
I mean, it really has been her dream and she's built,

(01:05:59):
she's made for it to be on Dance with the Stars.
She's totally made for I am so excited. How fun
was it to watch her reaction and how sweet Jason
was responding as well, he just knows it's her dream,
and yeah, I'm super stoked. It's it's a huge deal.
She's going to do great. I mean she is a
professional dancer. Yeah, it's gonna be awesome. Good for Caitlin.

(01:06:23):
Four and a half five years later, Caitlin Bristow is
still at the top and we have nothing. We just
want to celebrate that here. So hey, oh to Caitlin
Bristow this week. Great men on her season. They were
just a terrific friendships that were built. But with that,
this has been the Almost Famous podcast and I've been
been and I've been Ashley. We'll be back doing a

(01:06:45):
live podcast with you guys next week. Hope to see
you there. All The love by All followed the Benn
and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on iHeart Radio or
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