May 21, 2025 • 24 mins
Charles Ling was a fan favorite on The Golden Bachelorette, but why isn’t he in Paradise?? Ben and Ashley hang out with Charles and get the real reason why he didn’t make it to the sand, and we hear an update on his dating life since leaving the Mansion!
Plus, Charles opens up about how his relationship with his daughter shaped his Golden Bachelorette experience, and we find out more about a life changing conversation Charles had with a fellow contestant.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey guys, welcome back to the Apple Stairs Podcast. It's
Ben and Ashley and today we are so excited to
have one of the very favorite people from the Golden
Bachelorette on. We didn't have him on during the season
and now we are wondering why he's not in Paradise.
Welcome to the show, Charles Lang. Hi, turn it out
(00:28):
to thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, Charles, why are you here with us? You should
be in Paradise.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, you know, it's a kind of a decision between
me and the Sophia, my daughter self form what I
have reason. Yeah, maybe maybe another program in the future.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Yeah, let's kick it off there, let's talk about Paradise.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You, Ashley said, you're one of the favorites from the
Golden I would actually consider you, and I think Ashley
Wood as well, one of the favorites of all time
from any show ever.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I think people thank you could not enough of you.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
Now, you just mentioned that the decision to not be
in Paradise was a decision between yourself and your daughter.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Yet your daughters were very supportive of you going on
the Golden Show.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
Yeah, so what's changed because your experience there was so positive.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
This is this is just personal choice. I hate to
say why. This is the beach and we both think,
you know, we look much better and more handsome. I'm
prettier in formal dresses, okay, rather than like the youngsters,
you know, they have fun and kind a little bit
while at the beach.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Okay, all right, that makes sense. Now. When we first
heard that you weren't amongst the rumor to be in Paradise,
I thought, oh, well, maybe he's going to be the bachelor.
I think he's going to be the Golden Bachelor, because,
like we said, no one has been so endearing. But
but you're not the bachelor either. Were you in talks
to be.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Not really to not to my knowledge.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Not your knowledge, so that your name may have been
thrown around the producer rooms.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, well, as you know during almost that when we
were wrapping up last year, there are a lot of
requests and the cheers, you know, quote unquote hope you
know Charles will be one of the few to be
the final candidates for the new program. But this is
what it is. I think there are reasons probably we
need to pick another young handsome man.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
You know, well they could have picked you.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
You fall into that category, young and handsome Charles. This
experience for you obviously was unexpected because this show didn't
exist a few years ago. Right now that it's done,
you are removed. It's been a bit since the show
has aired. Looking back, what are your emotions and thoughts
(02:55):
on the whole experience.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Well, I would say one word, if I can summarize,
is amazing and or a little bit beyond my expectation.
In other words, the show was much better on my part.
As you probably heard during the program or after the program.
(03:20):
I was very ignorant about that program before I started.
So sometimes when you don't know anything, you really bring
yourself to the full level to the program. And recently
at a birthday party in our gym, they remind me
(03:40):
to give a talk on this, you know, and I
told them, you know one thing. They thought, we have scripts,
you know, Charles doesn't have to think, just read or memorize.
I said, now that's not the case. The beauty pot
is spontaneous, you know, and also surprises because so we
didn't know what question will be what program either you know,
(04:04):
one on one or group date and any other activities
around mentioning or of the mention we will not do
at all in advance, so it's just ready come out
as you are not prepared it yet. You know. I
think maybe there's the beauty. The audience loved it, you know,
(04:25):
and sometimes when I look at it back, I'm a
little bit of shocked what I said at this at
that particular moment. If you ask me to repeat, I
doubt I would be able to do that. Honestly, that's
really really beauty.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, the feelings that you get inside the bachelor
bubble when love is the only thing you can concentrate
on exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
You know, the one of the episodes just give you example,
the men tell all. I think that episode and I
just came back in the return from the trip. I
was worried. But one is the you know, the I'm
different zones. Two is I might be tied thirties. I
didn't speak that much English in a sense, you know,
in the previous two or three months, so I was worried.
(05:11):
Yet you know, at the end of the show, my
daughter Sofya came to me Dad, you know, wonderful, wonderful.
You didn't see anything any word more or less just perfect.
I was flattered and I was very happy.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Yeah, it's the best compliment from the best person that
could give you that compliment. Right, So talk about Sophia
for a second. Was she a fan of the show
going into your season or she know much about it?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Well, she knew. She knew a little bit more than
I did, and she wasn't nervous, to be honest, at
the very beginning, and she was nervous while I was
over there. Later on, she joked with me and said, Dad,
guess what. My sister and I we thought you might
send home during or after the first row ceremony. We
(06:03):
didn't tell you because you might change your mind. I said,
oh boy, had you told me this, I'm not sure
if I were to go or not. So that's a
good part, you know, when you don't know anything, you
really perform as it is and not nervous at all,
and just just you know, be myself. Yeah, it was great,
(06:24):
and talking about that. You know, even as of today,
I still bump into so many fans and a surprise.
One day, I joke with a lady in the store,
I said, after many months, how come you stirban me?
Of course, Charles, you know you were a favorite, and
(06:45):
so on and so forth. Yeah, and this this morning,
I was at the at the Cafeteriri and the young
man who served me a company, he said, Charles, you know,
my my parents loved you on the show. Guess what said?
And I told them that Charles came to our shop.
They were so happy, so I sent my best regards
(07:08):
to them too.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah, Charles, we know that you were born and raised
in rural China and you came to the US with
twenty dollars in your pocket.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Can you tell us a little bit about this story.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, that's you know, probably historically when we talk about
a rich country versus pole country, you know, and in
those days, you know, China was not really open to
the outside and the people just collected very very basic
accelary in local currency. And when we, for myself was
(07:56):
accepted by one of the universities with scholarship, yet you know,
there was no stipend. So quite a few of us
who were able to come to study in the States
either twenty dollars or forty dollars, probably not more than that.
And was I nervous, of course, yes, you know, your
(08:19):
twenty dollars. But on the other hand, in those days,
twenty dollars you can do a very lot of things,
you know, with twenty dollars here it's unfortunately there's only
a couple of coffin now today, you know. But yeah,
with twenty dollars in pocket and studied my education and
(08:39):
then you know, you find some work here and there,
and as you know, the environment, well, you know, you
are managed. You know, human beings say, you know, very
very powerful in a sense, like a sponge, you know
in the river. You really can explode at a certain
level when you are pushed to a certain degree. That's
(09:01):
you know what happened. And I'm not very rich yet,
but hoping, oh well, you know one day I'm working
on it. Yeah, but yeah, it was only twenty dollars.
Was a little bit nervous, But that was not that nervous,
you know, because I trust myself and I believe myself.
(09:23):
You know, things will get much better and better.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Well, you might not be I don't I mean, I
don't know your personal finances, Charles, but you might not
be rich financially, but it sounds like you're rich in
all the best ways. You have a lot of love
and support around you. You shared this story during the
show about your wife who has passed away. When you
went on the show, right, you sat down with Guy
(09:48):
in a very you know, I would use the word
famous or known moment. I think a lot of people
watched it and related to it and felt it emotionally
and then felt maybe somebody has been something similar. They
felt your emotions with them. What made you? I think
we saw the conversation, but what made you actually say no,
(10:09):
now's the time I want to talk to somebody about this.
I want to I want to voice whatever it is
I've been feeling for all this time. What made you
make that step, especially in this environment?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
You know, it was very, very hard. And when I
was in the mansion and interacting with other men, you know,
we talked. We all of us at first probably hesitated.
We were not sure it is the word vulnerable, you know,
whether to what degree we should share ourselves. But as
(10:43):
we opened the mall and a more, and one day
I was sitting in you know this guy we were talking,
I said, the doctor guy. You know, one scene really
really bothered me. I still couldn't figure out what really
happened to my wife when she fell and there was
little bit of blood here and there. So he thought
(11:03):
for a while, and from his perspectives and his experience,
he said, maybe this is what happened, as I explained
in the program. And after that I was really really relieved. Yeah,
and it was such such a moment that, you know,
I would say, it's kind of turning point. And I
(11:23):
was sad on one hand, but on the other hand,
and I found answer, and that also I began to
have more courage to move on and open it. As
Sophia said, Dad has changed. He really has changed after
the program, and people can tell.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, that it was worth the experience just to let out.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
And also when I talk to other people now, you know,
I think one part is in the program itself, but
also after the program, a lot of people come to me,
you know, Charles, you know, we're sorry what happened to you.
But at the same time they said this program really
helped them too, you know, linked to a lot of
(12:08):
themselves or their relatives. They said they really should have
the courage and openess like you did. You know, so
you really influenced other people, you know, not only look
at back, but have to you know, open up yourself
and move forward. As we use the analogy as if
(12:29):
you know, we are riding a train. You know, it
was a sad part at one stop. But on the
other hand, you know we've got to you know, prepared
and move on. So that I think probably encouraged and
help a lot of people, you know, in front of
the TV. For those who didn't have a chance to
(12:50):
meet with me yet, there are quite a few people
after the show they had a chance to meet me
here and there at the output at the train stage.
You can't leave it, you know. I was stopped at
the painstation in New York. You know, as soon as
I got off, I think about eight or ten people
from Texas they were waiting for me, and they had Charles,
(13:13):
and now I know we talked yeah, and then other
people in high Charles. Even the surprise thing is that
barely anyone's like I asked me saying, are you Charles. No,
it's a Charles. So it's it's it's affirmed. It's just
I mean, no doubt this is Charles, you know, the
one from the show that I mean, I feel really
(13:36):
really proud of myself in a sense, but also you know,
I feel happy for the audience. You know where we
can communicate in that perspective.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Charles, I got I got a fan here who would
love to also meet you.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
My wife Jessica. Jessica, can you come in here for
a second.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
When he can come.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Oscar, don't be shy.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
She's not going to be show.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
We just had a new little baby girl, Charles, and
so oh congratulations they're out there playing.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
This is my wife, remember Charles from the show, Charles,
I'm your biggest bed.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Nice to meet you.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Gosh, this is the coolest thing.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I told you, Charles. Yeah, this is real, Charles.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Yeah. Hi, Whitney says.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Hi, Hello, how are you?
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Is that good?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
This is the coolest thing. Thank you, me too. Yeah,
nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Yeah, me too. Yeah,
I'm so happy to see you. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Charles. You have a lot of gears under your belt
as being a girl dad. As Ben is just one
for the past three months through four months, what is
your advice to him?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Well, you know, be let them be themselves, but at
the same time, you use your sense. You need to
guide them sometimes you need a guidance. You know, when
they've grown up, if this is their question, and I
have a kind of a limit, you know. I directed
(15:26):
them only to certain degrees and the level. Rather, I'm
not a boss, you know, to them. And as a
father also I treat as a close friend in a sense,
you know, sometimes ask a lot of questions, what they want,
how they are treated, and what are their dreams. If
(15:47):
they have any requests, I always try to fulfill them.
I just give you one example of I don't know
if it's related or not. When Sophia was in middle
school and we had a new house, and one day
she said, Dad, I want to paint my room the
sitting like a Disney World. She's a great painter, you know.
(16:10):
I gave her credit. She's very, very artistic and talented.
Guess what. The mother said, No, you're going to ruin
the house. Then she came to me. I said, Sophie,
what is your ideas? After hearing what she said, I
just priyed and then quietly I said, go ahead, let's
go by some paint, do what you want. Just one
(16:33):
promise if things do not work out well, you will
help me to change the dry wall. She said, that's
the dumb deal. I'm not sure many Dad would be
willing to do that. There's a risk to ruin the room,
and a lot of them are chaos. But I think
this is the kind of dream and the kids have it,
(16:55):
we should fulfill support them. So I'm the kind of
dad like this. Anything it's reachable, possible, I always say yes.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
It's going to be hard for me to ever say
no to my daughter. I can tell that right now.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I don't think my dad ever told me.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Now, was it your two daughters who signed you up
for the show?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Then?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Literally not that they signed up, but the younger one, Sophia,
she kind of talked it over to me and talked
to me to sign it, and we decided very quickly.
You know, I make a decisions very quickly for certain things.
So it happened this program. I didn't hesitate, and we
(17:37):
just jump on the wagon and then move down.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Well, Charles, some of your guys are down in Costa
Rica filming paradise. I'm sure they're going to start heading
back soon, and I would love to know if you
have some in mind that you think might be finding
a love match down there.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
One thing, unfortunately, I don't know how many young ladies
when over there. When you when I use the word
of young ladies, you know, is it a lot or
only a few?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think there'll be equal amounts.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Wow, that's nice. I'm sure definitely that if that that's
the case, definitely will be happy stories after they come back.
We have a chat group, you know, and I'm sure
there'll be photos and even cases, roses, so on and
so forth. And I'll be happy if something you know
(18:28):
closer to you know, engagement, you know, we'll be together. Yeah,
I'll be happy for them.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
We'll be happy for them too.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
And obviously you're not down there, as we've mentioned before,
but you are in the real world where you know,
potential partners do exist. Still, are you dating? Are you
interested in dating? If so, how is it going for you.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I have not formally started dating yet yet, you know,
it's on my agenda if I can say that. Yeah,
I'm kind of in the way to be rush, but
not I'm not in a hurry either. I think, you know,
I'm waiting for that moment that the nice lady you
(19:16):
know will pop up, and also for me, you know,
I hope you know, I'll show up, you know as well.
I'm kind of you know, dream of or waiting for
that particular moment, and I'm sure, you know, something would
definitely happen, but it's a matter of time. If that happens,
I'll let you guys know.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
No, yeah, keep manifesting that thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yeah, that's the way it should be, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, I mean I was kind of nervous before the show,
as I explained during the program. Now that that part
is gone, and we are very transparent, you know, among
the kids myself, so I wouldn't worry too much yet,
you know, if that really happens, I still would like
(20:04):
to seek some opinion from the daughters, you know, and
even though they may not have the final approval say
yeah or no, but I would respect their instinct. I'm
sure they are pretty smart. We just want to make sure,
you know, she's happy and I'm happy. You know that.
That's the ultimatic goal, you know, nothing else. You know,
(20:24):
she can be rich or not necessary rich. You know,
she can be very happy, pretty or not necessary. That
pretty easy. Yeah, But the warm heart, the sweetheart, probably
is most important.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Yeah, Charles, You've got a sweetheart, you do. It was
shown on national television. You might not be the next
Golden Bachelor, but there are millions of people around the
world that would love to just get to run into
you because you know what you did. You were relatable,
(20:58):
you were engaging, your kind. Thank you, and you brought
a really healthy perspective to the show. And for that
all of us thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Thank Charles, and.
Speaker 5 (21:10):
This next season of life before we talk to you
again once you do get out there and start dating.
What's keeping you busy today? As we kind of close.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Here, Okay, one is you know, I visit my grandkids,
you know, as many times as I can. And also
I spend quite a few hours in the gym. We
have formed a very nice group of senior people, if
I can say, well, we dance, we exercise, we play pickaballs,
(21:38):
and we go out, have lunch, celebrate birthdays, so on
and so forth. And also another hobby, as I explained
in the program, it's just my hobby. I try to
trade half an hour day, you know, when the market
is ripe, and I do in salt, so I can
read a lot of stuff in reference to that market.
(21:59):
I really enjot it. You know. I may make, you know,
quite a few hundred dollars here and there, or lose
a few hundred dollars here and there. But that's okay yet.
You know, I know what I'm doing and I've been
doing very well, so I'm pretty pretty happy with that.
I'm very busy. And then nowadays, you know, I also
start by libraries. You know, I don't have particular topic
(22:20):
to study, but anything that catch my eyes, you know,
I would dig into that, either books or magazines on
and so forth. The first thing in the morning, when
I wake up, I always call Hey, Google, you know,
and then they say, oh, good morning, Charles. The news starts.
After the news, I said, hey, Google, can you play
(22:41):
such such music? While you know, I began to, you know,
make my room. So it's it's a it's a kind
of very routine. I'm pretty busy, but I'm very happy.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah, do you have Google play you Britney Spears, because
we know that it was on your bucket list to
see her live, and she says she's never put forming again,
so we may all not cross that one off.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Sure, you know, no anything. Sometimes school say, oh, Chiles,
we don't have that program, and I tease the Google,
and then another time, yes, you know, or I get
something on the YouTube and any other channels Also at
this moment, I watch NBA finals and also I watch
(23:24):
football finals. So now it's the time, you know, I
try to watch each single game moving forward.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
It's a good time. Knicks versus the Pacers. The Pacers
will come out on top.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Charles. I'm just letting you know right now, as an
Indiana fan.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I'm fine. No, I respect each team. I love them all.
You know, I don't have if one team loses the other,
I'm not mad, you know, I'm all happy for their
great efforts and entertainment. I love it.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Yeah, goodness, Charles, You're made in a factory somewhere. You're
like perfect, perfect, perfect man, a man that so many
of us can hope to be one day. Charles Link,
thank you for coming on the Almost Famous podcast. Thank
you for giving up your time. Thank you for sharing
all of your insights and all of your knowledge. And
(24:12):
I'm not kidding. My wife is was probably will always
be a huge.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Fan of you, Charles, along with so many others. So
we're wishing the best. Thank you, keeping.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Tention my best regards to my fans as well. Besides you,
thank perfect.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
We will Thanks Charles, I love it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Bye, Charles, thank you, Thank you, well guys. Until next time,
I've been Ashley.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
And I've been Ben. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey guys, welcome back to the Apple Stairs Podcast. It's
Ben and Ashley and today we are so excited to
have one of the very favorite people from the Golden
Bachelorette on. We didn't have him on during the season
and now we are wondering why he's not in Paradise.
Welcome to the show, Charles Lang. Hi, turn it out
(00:28):
to thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, Charles, why are you here with us? You should
be in Paradise.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, you know, it's a kind of a decision between
me and the Sophia, my daughter self form what I
have reason. Yeah, maybe maybe another program in the future.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Yeah, let's kick it off there, let's talk about Paradise.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You, Ashley said, you're one of the favorites from the
Golden I would actually consider you, and I think Ashley
Wood as well, one of the favorites of all time
from any show ever.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I think people thank you could not enough of you.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
Now, you just mentioned that the decision to not be
in Paradise was a decision between yourself and your daughter.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Yet your daughters were very supportive of you going on
the Golden Show.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
Yeah, so what's changed because your experience there was so positive.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
This is this is just personal choice. I hate to
say why. This is the beach and we both think,
you know, we look much better and more handsome. I'm
prettier in formal dresses, okay, rather than like the youngsters,
you know, they have fun and kind a little bit
while at the beach.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Okay, all right, that makes sense. Now. When we first
heard that you weren't amongst the rumor to be in Paradise,
I thought, oh, well, maybe he's going to be the bachelor.
I think he's going to be the Golden Bachelor, because,
like we said, no one has been so endearing. But
but you're not the bachelor either. Were you in talks
to be.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Not really to not to my knowledge.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Not your knowledge, so that your name may have been
thrown around the producer rooms.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, well, as you know during almost that when we
were wrapping up last year, there are a lot of
requests and the cheers, you know, quote unquote hope you
know Charles will be one of the few to be
the final candidates for the new program. But this is
what it is. I think there are reasons probably we
need to pick another young handsome man.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
You know, well they could have picked you.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
You fall into that category, young and handsome Charles. This
experience for you obviously was unexpected because this show didn't
exist a few years ago. Right now that it's done,
you are removed. It's been a bit since the show
has aired. Looking back, what are your emotions and thoughts
(02:55):
on the whole experience.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Well, I would say one word, if I can summarize,
is amazing and or a little bit beyond my expectation.
In other words, the show was much better on my part.
As you probably heard during the program or after the program.
(03:20):
I was very ignorant about that program before I started.
So sometimes when you don't know anything, you really bring
yourself to the full level to the program. And recently
at a birthday party in our gym, they remind me
(03:40):
to give a talk on this, you know, and I
told them, you know one thing. They thought, we have scripts,
you know, Charles doesn't have to think, just read or memorize.
I said, now that's not the case. The beauty pot
is spontaneous, you know, and also surprises because so we
didn't know what question will be what program either you know,
(04:04):
one on one or group date and any other activities
around mentioning or of the mention we will not do
at all in advance, so it's just ready come out
as you are not prepared it yet. You know. I
think maybe there's the beauty. The audience loved it, you know,
(04:25):
and sometimes when I look at it back, I'm a
little bit of shocked what I said at this at
that particular moment. If you ask me to repeat, I
doubt I would be able to do that. Honestly, that's
really really beauty.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, the feelings that you get inside the bachelor
bubble when love is the only thing you can concentrate
on exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
You know, the one of the episodes just give you example,
the men tell all. I think that episode and I
just came back in the return from the trip. I
was worried. But one is the you know, the I'm
different zones. Two is I might be tied thirties. I
didn't speak that much English in a sense, you know,
in the previous two or three months, so I was worried.
(05:11):
Yet you know, at the end of the show, my
daughter Sofya came to me Dad, you know, wonderful, wonderful.
You didn't see anything any word more or less just perfect.
I was flattered and I was very happy.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Yeah, it's the best compliment from the best person that
could give you that compliment. Right, So talk about Sophia
for a second. Was she a fan of the show
going into your season or she know much about it?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Well, she knew. She knew a little bit more than
I did, and she wasn't nervous, to be honest, at
the very beginning, and she was nervous while I was
over there. Later on, she joked with me and said, Dad,
guess what. My sister and I we thought you might
send home during or after the first row ceremony. We
(06:03):
didn't tell you because you might change your mind. I said,
oh boy, had you told me this, I'm not sure
if I were to go or not. So that's a
good part, you know, when you don't know anything, you
really perform as it is and not nervous at all,
and just just you know, be myself. Yeah, it was great,
(06:24):
and talking about that. You know, even as of today,
I still bump into so many fans and a surprise.
One day, I joke with a lady in the store,
I said, after many months, how come you stirban me?
Of course, Charles, you know you were a favorite, and
(06:45):
so on and so forth. Yeah, and this this morning,
I was at the at the Cafeteriri and the young
man who served me a company, he said, Charles, you know,
my my parents loved you on the show. Guess what said?
And I told them that Charles came to our shop.
They were so happy, so I sent my best regards
(07:08):
to them too.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah, Charles, we know that you were born and raised
in rural China and you came to the US with
twenty dollars in your pocket.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Can you tell us a little bit about this story.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, that's you know, probably historically when we talk about
a rich country versus pole country, you know, and in
those days, you know, China was not really open to
the outside and the people just collected very very basic
accelary in local currency. And when we, for myself was
(07:56):
accepted by one of the universities with scholarship, yet you know,
there was no stipend. So quite a few of us
who were able to come to study in the States
either twenty dollars or forty dollars, probably not more than that.
And was I nervous, of course, yes, you know, your
(08:19):
twenty dollars. But on the other hand, in those days,
twenty dollars you can do a very lot of things,
you know, with twenty dollars here it's unfortunately there's only
a couple of coffin now today, you know. But yeah,
with twenty dollars in pocket and studied my education and
(08:39):
then you know, you find some work here and there,
and as you know, the environment, well, you know, you
are managed. You know, human beings say, you know, very
very powerful in a sense, like a sponge, you know
in the river. You really can explode at a certain
level when you are pushed to a certain degree. That's
(09:01):
you know what happened. And I'm not very rich yet,
but hoping, oh well, you know one day I'm working
on it. Yeah, but yeah, it was only twenty dollars.
Was a little bit nervous, But that was not that nervous,
you know, because I trust myself and I believe myself.
(09:23):
You know, things will get much better and better.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Well, you might not be I don't I mean, I
don't know your personal finances, Charles, but you might not
be rich financially, but it sounds like you're rich in
all the best ways. You have a lot of love
and support around you. You shared this story during the
show about your wife who has passed away. When you
went on the show, right, you sat down with Guy
(09:48):
in a very you know, I would use the word
famous or known moment. I think a lot of people
watched it and related to it and felt it emotionally
and then felt maybe somebody has been something similar. They
felt your emotions with them. What made you? I think
we saw the conversation, but what made you actually say no,
(10:09):
now's the time I want to talk to somebody about this.
I want to I want to voice whatever it is
I've been feeling for all this time. What made you
make that step, especially in this environment?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
You know, it was very, very hard. And when I
was in the mansion and interacting with other men, you know,
we talked. We all of us at first probably hesitated.
We were not sure it is the word vulnerable, you know,
whether to what degree we should share ourselves. But as
(10:43):
we opened the mall and a more, and one day
I was sitting in you know this guy we were talking,
I said, the doctor guy. You know, one scene really
really bothered me. I still couldn't figure out what really
happened to my wife when she fell and there was
little bit of blood here and there. So he thought
(11:03):
for a while, and from his perspectives and his experience,
he said, maybe this is what happened, as I explained
in the program. And after that I was really really relieved. Yeah,
and it was such such a moment that, you know,
I would say, it's kind of turning point. And I
(11:23):
was sad on one hand, but on the other hand,
and I found answer, and that also I began to
have more courage to move on and open it. As
Sophia said, Dad has changed. He really has changed after
the program, and people can tell.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, that it was worth the experience just to let out.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
And also when I talk to other people now, you know,
I think one part is in the program itself, but
also after the program, a lot of people come to me,
you know, Charles, you know, we're sorry what happened to you.
But at the same time they said this program really
helped them too, you know, linked to a lot of
(12:08):
themselves or their relatives. They said they really should have
the courage and openess like you did. You know, so
you really influenced other people, you know, not only look
at back, but have to you know, open up yourself
and move forward. As we use the analogy as if
(12:29):
you know, we are riding a train. You know, it
was a sad part at one stop. But on the
other hand, you know we've got to you know, prepared
and move on. So that I think probably encouraged and
help a lot of people, you know, in front of
the TV. For those who didn't have a chance to
(12:50):
meet with me yet, there are quite a few people
after the show they had a chance to meet me
here and there at the output at the train stage.
You can't leave it, you know. I was stopped at
the painstation in New York. You know, as soon as
I got off, I think about eight or ten people
from Texas they were waiting for me, and they had Charles,
(13:13):
and now I know we talked yeah, and then other
people in high Charles. Even the surprise thing is that
barely anyone's like I asked me saying, are you Charles. No,
it's a Charles. So it's it's it's affirmed. It's just
I mean, no doubt this is Charles, you know, the
one from the show that I mean, I feel really
(13:36):
really proud of myself in a sense, but also you know,
I feel happy for the audience. You know where we
can communicate in that perspective.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Charles, I got I got a fan here who would
love to also meet you.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
My wife Jessica. Jessica, can you come in here for
a second.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
When he can come.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Oscar, don't be shy.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
She's not going to be show.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
We just had a new little baby girl, Charles, and
so oh congratulations they're out there playing.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
This is my wife, remember Charles from the show, Charles,
I'm your biggest bed.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Nice to meet you.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Gosh, this is the coolest thing.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I told you, Charles. Yeah, this is real, Charles.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Yeah. Hi, Whitney says.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Hi, Hello, how are you?
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Is that good?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
This is the coolest thing. Thank you, me too. Yeah,
nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Yeah, me too. Yeah,
I'm so happy to see you. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Charles. You have a lot of gears under your belt
as being a girl dad. As Ben is just one
for the past three months through four months, what is
your advice to him?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Well, you know, be let them be themselves, but at
the same time, you use your sense. You need to
guide them sometimes you need a guidance. You know, when
they've grown up, if this is their question, and I
have a kind of a limit, you know. I directed
(15:26):
them only to certain degrees and the level. Rather, I'm
not a boss, you know, to them. And as a
father also I treat as a close friend in a sense,
you know, sometimes ask a lot of questions, what they want,
how they are treated, and what are their dreams. If
(15:47):
they have any requests, I always try to fulfill them.
I just give you one example of I don't know
if it's related or not. When Sophia was in middle
school and we had a new house, and one day
she said, Dad, I want to paint my room the
sitting like a Disney World. She's a great painter, you know.
(16:10):
I gave her credit. She's very, very artistic and talented.
Guess what. The mother said, No, you're going to ruin
the house. Then she came to me. I said, Sophie,
what is your ideas? After hearing what she said, I
just priyed and then quietly I said, go ahead, let's
go by some paint, do what you want. Just one
(16:33):
promise if things do not work out well, you will
help me to change the dry wall. She said, that's
the dumb deal. I'm not sure many Dad would be
willing to do that. There's a risk to ruin the room,
and a lot of them are chaos. But I think
this is the kind of dream and the kids have it,
(16:55):
we should fulfill support them. So I'm the kind of
dad like this. Anything it's reachable, possible, I always say yes.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
It's going to be hard for me to ever say
no to my daughter. I can tell that right now.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I don't think my dad ever told me.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Now, was it your two daughters who signed you up
for the show?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Then?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Literally not that they signed up, but the younger one, Sophia,
she kind of talked it over to me and talked
to me to sign it, and we decided very quickly.
You know, I make a decisions very quickly for certain things.
So it happened this program. I didn't hesitate, and we
(17:37):
just jump on the wagon and then move down.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Well, Charles, some of your guys are down in Costa
Rica filming paradise. I'm sure they're going to start heading
back soon, and I would love to know if you
have some in mind that you think might be finding
a love match down there.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
One thing, unfortunately, I don't know how many young ladies
when over there. When you when I use the word
of young ladies, you know, is it a lot or
only a few?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think there'll be equal amounts.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Wow, that's nice. I'm sure definitely that if that that's
the case, definitely will be happy stories after they come back.
We have a chat group, you know, and I'm sure
there'll be photos and even cases, roses, so on and
so forth. And I'll be happy if something you know
(18:28):
closer to you know, engagement, you know, we'll be together. Yeah,
I'll be happy for them.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
We'll be happy for them too.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
And obviously you're not down there, as we've mentioned before,
but you are in the real world where you know,
potential partners do exist. Still, are you dating? Are you
interested in dating? If so, how is it going for you.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I have not formally started dating yet yet, you know,
it's on my agenda if I can say that. Yeah,
I'm kind of in the way to be rush, but
not I'm not in a hurry either. I think, you know,
I'm waiting for that moment that the nice lady you
(19:16):
know will pop up, and also for me, you know,
I hope you know, I'll show up, you know as well.
I'm kind of you know, dream of or waiting for
that particular moment, and I'm sure, you know, something would
definitely happen, but it's a matter of time. If that happens,
I'll let you guys know.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
No, yeah, keep manifesting that thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yeah, that's the way it should be, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, I mean I was kind of nervous before the show,
as I explained during the program. Now that that part
is gone, and we are very transparent, you know, among
the kids myself, so I wouldn't worry too much yet,
you know, if that really happens, I still would like
(20:04):
to seek some opinion from the daughters, you know, and
even though they may not have the final approval say
yeah or no, but I would respect their instinct. I'm
sure they are pretty smart. We just want to make sure,
you know, she's happy and I'm happy. You know that.
That's the ultimatic goal, you know, nothing else. You know,
(20:24):
she can be rich or not necessary rich. You know,
she can be very happy, pretty or not necessary. That
pretty easy. Yeah, But the warm heart, the sweetheart, probably
is most important.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Yeah, Charles, You've got a sweetheart, you do. It was
shown on national television. You might not be the next
Golden Bachelor, but there are millions of people around the
world that would love to just get to run into
you because you know what you did. You were relatable,
(20:58):
you were engaging, your kind. Thank you, and you brought
a really healthy perspective to the show. And for that
all of us thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Thank Charles, and.
Speaker 5 (21:10):
This next season of life before we talk to you
again once you do get out there and start dating.
What's keeping you busy today? As we kind of close.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Here, Okay, one is you know, I visit my grandkids,
you know, as many times as I can. And also
I spend quite a few hours in the gym. We
have formed a very nice group of senior people, if
I can say, well, we dance, we exercise, we play pickaballs,
(21:38):
and we go out, have lunch, celebrate birthdays, so on
and so forth. And also another hobby, as I explained
in the program, it's just my hobby. I try to
trade half an hour day, you know, when the market
is ripe, and I do in salt, so I can
read a lot of stuff in reference to that market.
(21:59):
I really enjot it. You know. I may make, you know,
quite a few hundred dollars here and there, or lose
a few hundred dollars here and there. But that's okay yet.
You know, I know what I'm doing and I've been
doing very well, so I'm pretty pretty happy with that.
I'm very busy. And then nowadays, you know, I also
start by libraries. You know, I don't have particular topic
(22:20):
to study, but anything that catch my eyes, you know,
I would dig into that, either books or magazines on
and so forth. The first thing in the morning, when
I wake up, I always call Hey, Google, you know,
and then they say, oh, good morning, Charles. The news starts.
After the news, I said, hey, Google, can you play
(22:41):
such such music? While you know, I began to, you know,
make my room. So it's it's a it's a kind
of very routine. I'm pretty busy, but I'm very happy.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah, do you have Google play you Britney Spears, because
we know that it was on your bucket list to
see her live, and she says she's never put forming again,
so we may all not cross that one off.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Sure, you know, no anything. Sometimes school say, oh, Chiles,
we don't have that program, and I tease the Google,
and then another time, yes, you know, or I get
something on the YouTube and any other channels Also at
this moment, I watch NBA finals and also I watch
(23:24):
football finals. So now it's the time, you know, I
try to watch each single game moving forward.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
It's a good time. Knicks versus the Pacers. The Pacers
will come out on top.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Charles. I'm just letting you know right now, as an
Indiana fan.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I'm fine. No, I respect each team. I love them all.
You know, I don't have if one team loses the other,
I'm not mad, you know, I'm all happy for their
great efforts and entertainment. I love it.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Yeah, goodness, Charles, You're made in a factory somewhere. You're
like perfect, perfect, perfect man, a man that so many
of us can hope to be one day. Charles Link,
thank you for coming on the Almost Famous podcast. Thank
you for giving up your time. Thank you for sharing
all of your insights and all of your knowledge. And
(24:12):
I'm not kidding. My wife is was probably will always
be a huge.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Fan of you, Charles, along with so many others. So
we're wishing the best. Thank you, keeping.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Tention my best regards to my fans as well. Besides you,
thank perfect.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
We will Thanks Charles, I love it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Bye, Charles, thank you, Thank you, well guys. Until next time,
I've been Ashley.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
And I've been Ben. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti
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