All Episodes

July 9, 2025 17 mins

The first episode of the “new version” of Bachelor in Paradise has aired, but what do people REALLY think?? Ben and Ashley share reactions from all over Bachelor Nation and we find out what worked… and what missed the mark.

 

Ashley feels that the biggest flaw of Paradise is one of the biggest changes! We try to figure out why Dale Moss is being placed on a pedestal, what are they planning?? And is the cash prize taking away from the “love” aspect of Bachelor in Paradise?

 

Plus, we have low hopes for how much Hannah Brown we’ll actually see this season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's almost famous podcast. It's been and Ashley back here,
and we wanted to do a quick little recap on
the feedback we've seen and also kind of heard about
this new season of Paradise, because, after all, the show
has resonated with his audiences in a way that's all
this positive and negative, kind of like we were breaking
down on our Bachelor in Paradise recap before we get

(00:28):
into it. The premiere was Monday. Uh, and we've been
watching you and listening to you, and we're gonna try
to do our best of encapsulating everything that's been said
so far. Actually, I'll start it out here. I think
Tanner Tolbert's post.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
Mike, you haven't pulled up Ben, are we mind reading?

Speaker 4 (00:52):
I literally just pulled it up for this conversation.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I feel like you and I are like really clicking
right now.

Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, today we're having a day.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
You are having a day, Ashley. Go ahead and read
it because I think it's the perfect breakdown of how
I felt, maybe how fans are feeling, because it wasn't
pure hate. It's it's kind of a divorce from the
old entering into the new. I'm not quite sure how

(01:21):
I feel, But Tanner said a lot of things well
in this post.

Speaker 4 (01:26):
Totally okay.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
So he said, Bachelor in Paradise is now Timu Island, which,
if you're not familiar with Timu, it is like the
cheaper version of Amazon products. It's the Sheian, It's the
Forever twenty one rip Forever twenty one. He's saying it's
the cheap version of Love Island. He said, these producers
are just trying to copy Love Island but are executing

(01:47):
it poorly.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
The new location is silly.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
Either get a badass villa if you're gonna copy Love Island,
or stay in Paradise. This generic resort falls short of
somewhere in the middle, very stale feeling. The dream scenes
are so cheesy and force. This was very a very
popular opinion on social media. My bad for thinking that
these scenes were.

Speaker 4 (02:11):
Like kind of fine, like kind of funny.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
In which I said on our last episode, he said,
having the cast stay in separate hotel rooms is dumb.
It limits the amount of interaction and discussion between the
cast mates. I totally believe that that is one of
the major flaws in the new system. Having the cast
day in ceret rooms is just like, Okay, it's dating time,

(02:34):
and then it's like go to bedtime. It's just it's
not it's just not paradise whatsoever. And then he said
he's still hopeful that this cast can produce some good storylines.
I truly am I'm not sure about I don't think
there's gonna be a ton but I do think that
there is some good relationship meet forming overall.

Speaker 4 (02:59):
He did a.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Poll said do you think would you like the new VIP?
Only thirteen percent said yes, eighty seven percent said no.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
Hey let me pause you there. It goes kind of
against the poll that we did on Instagram. We got
a lot of great results coming in from our listeners.
The first question we asked on our pool was do
you like the new filming of the resort? Like the
new filming resort, so the one that they're filming in
now fifty five percent said yes, forty five percent so

(03:30):
that they missed the old one. We also asked this question,
do you like all the Dale months Moss entrance attention?
Seventy percent said they did not like it at all.
Thirty percent said they did because he's handsome. The final
question we asked was do you like money being involved

(03:53):
in Paradise? Twenty six percent said yes they loved the
competition of it all, while seventy four percent and know
this should be about finding love.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
Now.

Speaker 2 (04:03):
I think a little bit of that is based on
how we asked the question. However, the thing I want
to focus on first with you, Ashley, before we getting
anything else, and the thing I was most interested in
is really two topics. You know, I didn't love all
the Dale Moss love, but I can't hate on some
dude getting some support.

Speaker 3 (04:22):
What people are saying that that is the bombshell entered
the villa that they have on Love Island, like he
was supposed to be the bombshell.

Speaker 4 (04:30):
Which, yes, that is a extreme similarity.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
Sure, I will say it this way. I don't hate
I don't know Dale, so I can't say if he's good, bad,
and different. I don't love any of anybody getting kind
of put on a pedestal in these experiences. I think
all of them are beautiful, all of them are there
to find love. I like equal playing fields in Paradise

(04:56):
because it's fun to see the Tanner Tolbert's Mary the
Jades of the world, which nobody would have expected. Now
that Tanner's in not a handsome dude, he is, He's
a great guy.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
Funny Jade was the bombshell who entered the villain exactly.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
So that's why I say I like during these kind
of shows, especially Paradise, who does it, I think better
than anybody when it comes to the equal playing field.
The Dylan's marrying the Hannahs, like, those are the scenarios
that stand out in my mind that I love. And
I think putting anybody on a pedestal makes them so
much of the pursuit that a lot of these kind

(05:34):
of like maybe quieter, nerdier people maybe don't get a shot. Okay,
that's my statement whatever. But the two things I'm most
interested to talk about with you on the breakdown after
our breakdown is the resource. So let's start there. I
think the reason I said Tanner said this perfectly is
because he's right. They either get a really great villa

(05:55):
for this show, or you know, they get some type
of how But I think the reason I said last
episode that it was hard for me to follow was
because of how segregated this resort is. They're just staying
at a resort. Even when I go on vacation with
my wife at a resort, sometimes we don't see each other,
like we miss each other. She goes to the gym.

(06:16):
All of a sudden, I'm at the cafeteria. We're not
seeing each other for a couple hours, and we meet
each other at the pool. It felt like this during Paradise.
I don't like it. I want them back at one
house all together, intermingling.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, you could have made it an air conditioned place,
and it made it way boogier than it usually is,
but still kept the whole living together as a community environment.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah. So I'm with the fans. The resort not for
me so far. I'm not sold on it. The cast is,
you know, somebody I do hope create storylines. We want
to give them the benefit of the doubt. There's still people.
They're very similar to the casts of the past. They
just don't have maybe the A listers like the Ashleys
that are there with them. But they'll do their best.

(07:04):
But really, the final point here that I want to
speak with you about is the cash prize. We kind
of glossed over it during our breakdown at the first episode.
I actually now, based on fans' responses, think it is
the most influential and crucial item to this first episode.

Speaker 4 (07:22):
Oh I disagree. I will let you know what I
think is, but go ahead.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
I don't like it. I have solidly put my stake
in the ground now, and I would love to be
convinced otherwise. I have committed in life to be able
to change my opinion even when I feel strongly about something,
because that's how the best humans of history have operated,
and I'd like to try to get as closer than
as possible. But I don't like it right now. I
don't like that we have separated and kind of made

(07:49):
love now a money grab. It feels like what our
culture and society has done incorrectly, that we're feeling the
repercussions of where you know, kids are now meant to
be influencers, and money seems to be the easy pursuit
of everybody, and everybody's going to try to find their
way to get rich quick. The thing I loved about

(08:10):
Paradise Ashley was still the innocence, the craziness of the scenario,
but the innocence of the environment where the Tanner and
Jade's me that Ashley and Jared's Me, the Hannah and
Dylan's me and love is formed from this beautiful.

Speaker 4 (08:30):
Place, Adam and Raven, Adam and Raven.

Speaker 2 (08:33):
I just think money takes away from that, and I
don't want the distraction.

Speaker 4 (08:38):
Okay, I totally agree with you.

Speaker 3 (08:40):
I think we I think the money thing is going
where we think it's going. But let's give him a
little bit of doubt. That it was just teased in
the trailer for the next, you know, the rest of
the season, and perhaps it's not as yucky as we
think it might be. I again think it will be,
but we do not have details on it yet. But

(09:00):
I found to be what people concentrate the most on.
When I'm looking at my responses on Instagram story, I
have like engagement is low this week people because of
Amazon's pride, But I for the amount of people who
have seen this so far in the past hour, I
have at least one hundred messages, most of which are

(09:24):
complaining about the editing. People saying that the editing was distracting,
that it was cheesy, that just felt way to produced
with that kind of editing, and that made the personality
of the show feel totally different.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
So fans responses right now from all sides, following x
two messages we've received to the responses we've received on
the Almost Famous podcast, fans don't seem to be giving
up on the show. So that's a good thing.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, yeah, because I think that they know that the
crux is there.

Speaker 2 (10:09):
It's just definitely so if Rob Mills is listening to
this podcast at any point, or somebody from his team
is if you want to hear anything from the studies
that we've done that are very unscientific, Fans are not
giving up on the show. However, I do think fans
are a little bit hesitant to fall deeply in love

(10:32):
with this new format. And I think it all comes
down to how can how the season continues to be edited.
I think it comes because the resort if they could
edit that to be great, like they can make any
location work. We've done group dates in the weirdest of
places and they've made it work, and they made it
beautiful and they made it make sense. I'm not worried

(10:54):
about the editing that can change, that can happen. The
cash prize, I think is a concern. Uh, and so
how does that play out? And also how does this
cast step up to make the storylines that we that
we desire. We see in the teaser the Dale Moss
April makeout. I'm not saying that I want to watch it,

(11:17):
but I'm also not saying I don't want to see
weird stuff like that happen because it will keep me
hooked for the next week.

Speaker 4 (11:23):
Yeah, that's if that case isn't going was it? Is
it a makeout or did he doth?

Speaker 2 (11:29):
I mean like a shot with like a shot?

Speaker 4 (11:32):
Okay, it's like then it's being dramatic. Okay. So another
that bringing up Goldens with April.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
People are thinking that that the resort change was because
of ac reasons for them.

Speaker 4 (11:44):
No, people, that's not the reason. We know. We know
it wasn't because of that.

Speaker 2 (11:49):
It was not because of the Goldens coming show. They
weren't saying, hey, the Goldens are coming on, let's get
a mac. I don't think that the Golds.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
No, then they would have put the Goldens in a
different spot. If the case, it's interesting that they tease
the Goldens being there so much and then they didn't
incorporate them into a three hour long premiere episode.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
Rumor has it they may not be in the next episode.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
Either really see what I would have enjoyed is because
I'm not so keen on them being there in the
first place, like I think most of Bache Nation's not.

Speaker 4 (12:21):
But I would have been.

Speaker 3 (12:22):
Down for two hours of the Young Ends and then
a second hour of the Goldens that would make sense,
or even Monday for the young Ins and Tuesday for
the Goldens. And our producer right now is saying that
they're yeah, not showing up until episode three.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
Episode three, I think we'll see the Goldens, which will
be a weird mix in, but we're gonna see how
it works out. Hey, we're having a good time no
matter what. We're gonna be critical but also supportive. We
haven't a good time hearing from you, the fans, the
listeners on what you're thinking of this next season. There's
a lot going on and a lot for us to

(13:00):
pay attention to. So until we can continue to kind of,
I guess, fact check this and make sure that our
assumptions on how everything is going to happen actually happen.
We're gonna stay positive.

Speaker 4 (13:12):
Oh I am positive, I know, but.

Speaker 2 (13:14):
You and I both really want this to work for
many reasons. One one of my best friends in the
world works on this show. I want to have a
job for the next twenty years. I want to be
sixty years old, and I want Will still behind the bar,
still mixing drinks. I want him to rock and roll
this thing forever. And we also just love the idea
of Paradise. But I actually, I will say this and
I'll say it again. I love the idea of Paradise

(13:37):
because it does put everybody on equal playing field, and
I don't want to see that change. And they felt
like they were changing that with Dale, which to me
made this thing less desirable to watch, because I want
to see Dale Moss come in, or the Sam even
Sam's of the world, who should have been like a
hot commodity, right, good looking guy, stud suave, all those things.

(13:59):
I like that he went home right away, not for
his sake, but I like the fact that nobody was like,
I'm all about it. Yes, Oh my gosh, give me Sam.
I just want to see how this thing shakes out,
because I think we get a better taste of who
these people actually are during Paradise.

Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, and I think that so many of the changes
have dominated the chatter. But I do think that we'll
have some good stories come out of this. I enjoyed
many chunks of the episode. I just think that, you know,
the conversation is, it's just there's other things blaring in
our face. So I don't want to like on the
show at all. It was just because there's goodness in there.

(14:38):
There really really is.

Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, okay, so that's the breakdown of episode one. That's
what you guys were saying. We didn't even mention in
our recap about Hannah Brown being a part of the show.

Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (14:49):
Now, Ashley, as we kind of close out here, we
get two episodes next week, the Goldens enter the beach.
From what we hear on episode three, what is your
thoughts on Hannah coming in to be the concierge.

Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, okay, so that makes so much more sense than
her being the supposed bubbly girl. Because you were a
little defensive of Wells. I think, I hope I'm not
like putting words in your mouth, but like when you
found out that, like Hannah was coming there, you were like,
they don't need another Bartet or the only champagne.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
I think it is Hannah Brown. I'm just the guy
that's been there forever.

Speaker 3 (15:24):
Yeah, I think she's the concierge and they're supposed to
ask her for like, Hey, like I would love a
cute setup over by this spot. Can I do an
at home date? That's a cute idea to have her
there for that. However, do I think that Hannah's going
to be disappointed and the fact that she went and
spent three weeks down there and she might have like
three minutes total of their time.

Speaker 4 (15:45):
Quite possibly.

Speaker 2 (15:47):
I do think she might be. But she gets paid
if she shows up on an episode, so good for
her no matter how often she shows up. However, I
also know that like, this isn't just a character like
Well's works. He serves drinks all day at that beach,
so she is concierging. I'm assuming all day at that beach,

(16:09):
setting stuff up and actually like putting stuff together. We'll
see how she actually feels about it kind of of
this as the season goes on. I'll be interested, because
I don't it's not just a hand me job. Like,
it's not just hey, Well stand up there at the
bar and say bars open and then leave and get
paid for it. No, you're gonna work it. You're there,
he does.

Speaker 3 (16:30):
Yeah, you would know, I would assume that, yeah, they're
like actually having her cut the strawberries and dip them
into chocolate.

Speaker 2 (16:36):
I think it's so great good. It's nice to get
paid so much and be so humbled at the same time. Hey, anyways,
this is the Almost Famous podcast. It's great to talk
to you all. We'll be back with more episodes this week.
We have a headlines episode. We obviously have some really
great interviews coming your way. We'll keep talking about Paradise
and all the cool stuff happening. So until next time,

(16:56):
I've Been Been.

Speaker 4 (16:57):
I've Been Ashley see Yah.

Speaker 1 (17:00):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcasts on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Advertise With Us

Hosts And Creators

Ben Higgins

Ben Higgins

Ashley Iaconetti

Ashley Iaconetti

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.