TempTayshia

Ashley has a serious boy band fan girl moment with Kenny (the boy band manager) from Clare’s/Tayshia’s season. He spills some TOP SECRET dirt from inside the Bachlorette bubble and we hear how the guys reacted to the transition from Clare to Tayshia. 

We catch up with the new DWTS Mirrorball champion Kaitlyn Bristowe! Find out how she prepared for her historic win and the REAL injuries she sustained while training. 

Plus, Ben and Ashley recap this week’s episode of The Bachelorette and what might be the best “wedding picture date” of all time. 

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast
with i R Radio. Tassia has still not disappointed. Uh.
The guys actually so good I mean and the guys
actually I feel like for the first time, tastion has
been great. But these guys after after this week, I say, uh,
and tell me if I'm wrong, Like, they're not disappointing now.

(00:23):
They had disappointed me. Up until this week, I just
felt like I didn't know them, I didn't know what
was going on. And this week I'm leaving this episode
going these guys got something special. I wish I could elaborate,
but you know, I mean. So, Hey, We're back with
another episode in the Almost Famous Podcast. We're breaking down
tatious season. We have some incredible guests today. We wanna

(00:45):
tell you all listeners to tune in for the whole
episode because it's gonna be stacked full. We have Kenny
from this season of The Bachelorette coming on to talk
about everything behind the scenes his life. I'm sure Ashley's
super curious on his job and what a boy band managing,
um my gosh. And then we're gonna have right now
the Queen of the franchise Caitlin Bristow wanted to talk
about her victory on Dance with Stars and having the

(01:09):
mirror ball by her side now for a long time.
Caitlin Bristol will be coming on. But hey, we have
Bachelor headlines to break down, and Ashley, as usual, you
know that you are the expert on this and I
know I know these headlines do not disappoint. So here
we go. Let's dive in. Hey, let's do it. Bachelor

(01:30):
Nations are a lion. Dyke Junior reveals he tested positive
for COVID nineteen. It's been rough, he says this, according
to People magazine. Yeah, he came out on Thursday, said
that he was diagnosed with COVID nine days ago, which
is why he was not appearing on social media for
a while. She said that, you know they've been he
and Lauren and their daughter have been pretty far apart

(01:54):
from him the house at least twenty five ft away tomorrow,
as in like Friday. This past Friday, he got to
see if he was cleared and he was so um
that that that's it. Um. I didn't say anything about
his symptoms. I actually think that he was pretty much asymptomatic. Well,
you know, a lot of people right now around the

(02:15):
country and around the world are still struggling with this virus.
It's more prevalent than ever. So it's not a shock
right that r. Liondyke Jr. Has COVID, but we do
want to update you anytime people do. Now, speaking of illnesses,
there is somebody in the Bachelor Nation that is literally
the picture of health typically. I mean, this guy Uh
runs ultramarathons, he does triathlons. He is a former professional

(02:40):
football player. I've been around him many times and he's
quite a few years older than me, but his activity
level and his UH endurance has always shocked me. And
so this is a weird story actually, and I want
to hear what you think. Bachelor Nations. Trista Sutter says,
husband Ryan's ruggling with a mystery illness. This according to

(03:02):
the online I know, this is so sad. So Tris
has said that he's at the point where he can't
work or cook, or exercise or even be with the family.
And they've been struggling this for months and struggling to
get answers. They did get a huge relief recently finding
out that he does not have cancer. Um, but there's
still no diagnosis for the discomfort that he's feeling. Um,

(03:24):
this is how horrible is that it's just scary with
the unknown and and and again I want to emphasize
like this guy is like super healthy. I mean, he
takes health very seriously. He always has since I've known him.
He's pushed me, um to you know, to be a

(03:44):
just more active as I get older. And so this
is this is not something like gloss over like this
is there's something going on. And so they're in our
thoughts and prayers. And we'll try to update you as
this story continues. But it is something to watch his
Bachelor Nations, so your support for Ryan, interested in the
in the family, so sad um. Yeah, we'll keep you updated,

(04:06):
you guys. And I just want to go back to
Ari's COVID diagnosis for a second. Like the headline was,
it's been rough. But yeah, even though he hasn't been symptomatic,
what he meant by it's been rough is that he
hasn't been able to do with his girls. For he
has been well touched you know, his family in over
a week. So that's what sucks about it, Ashley. There's
been rumors around this couple really since they got together,

(04:30):
Rumors that things weren't going well, things that that you
know they were that you know they were struggling, But
they continue to prove to us that things are going fine.
Bachelor Nations uh Claire Crawley and Dale Moss spend First
Things Given together after engagement. Some a little confused by
this because he's from Minnesota, and I thought that most
of his family was living in Minnesota. Still right South Dakota.

(04:54):
I thought he was in South Dakota, South Dakota, Thank
you so South Dakota. But apparently they spent time with
some of his family in Lahoya, California this past Thanksgiving.
They drove down with a seven hour road trip. Claire
said that she loved the quality time with Dale. They
have a family farm there, so they got chickens. She

(05:17):
was running around the chickens on social media. We saw
them running around of the beach um. She said that
she was, you know, just seeing what she posted on
social She was saying that like they've been getting in
bed at like six o'clock, drinking hot chocolate, watching romantic
Christmas movies. She said that she very much enjoyed her
holiday with dale Um and I guess the family. It

(05:38):
sounds like a dream, sounds like an absolute dream to
go to bed at six o'clock drin chocolate with yours.
I don't know's, I can't think of anything is much better? Hey? Uh?
Speaking to Claire, she came out this week on her
social media and said she's been going through things after
her bachelorette exit, and her quote is I am simply
trying my best Disaccording to people, the caption goes, Hi,

(06:00):
it's me Claire, not Claire that you've seen edited on
your television or social media squares, but the human with
feelings and securities, emotions, any normal life, just like you,
and just like you know, I'm going through things big
and small that all of us experience at some point
or another, just like you. I can be shy and
awkward or even fighting off my anxiety the best I

(06:20):
can that day. They are good days and bad days.
Being on reality TV does not exempt me or any
of us from that. I will do my best to
rise above the negativity and find the positive. But I'm
not a superhuman. So when you choose to pass judgments
without knowing someone personally, or even something as small as
a snide comment. Please remember that, just like you, I'm

(06:43):
simply trying my best. And then Dale responded to this
Instagram posting, You're never alone. Your strength, love and passion
has and will continue to help so many people out
there who may be afraid to share their struggles. It
can't be easy. I mean, her exit obviously was controversial. Uh,
it wasn't what Batchel Nation was thinking was going to happen. Obviously,

(07:03):
Tascia has done a great job, but um, the you know,
the feedback coming after her exit has been tough, and
so it is always helpful to see people share vulnerability
and Claire has definitely done that. Now, we had just
a few weeks ago our friends giving, and um, it

(07:25):
was awesome. It was really fun, and we actually had
a couple of really special guests from Batchelor Nation with us.
One of those guests was Crystal Nielsen, Well Bachelor Nations.
Crystal Nielsen reveals the sex of her first baby. Disaccording
to e she's having a girl. I kind of expected it.
I just vibed it, didn't you. Yeah, I mean, is

(07:45):
this weird? I don't know if this is gonna get
a lot of hate or not. But it just kind
of feels like Crystal is a girl mom. Yeah, She's
just like she's like, yeah, she's like a girl mom. Like, Um,
I don't know, I just got that feeling so fun
and end that it's almost I almost can't imagine her
growing a boy. So Crystal Neilsen is having a girl. Well, hey,

(08:09):
actually this is a tough story. Um, this is this
is the worst. Yeah, this one really just shook um
and I shook me this week. Uh, the headline reads,
this Bachelor's Ashley Spivey is devastated by second pregnancy loss
after delivering beautiful son Christopher. Now you know, one thing

(08:32):
has happened here recently and uh, and moms and and
dad's are starting to become more open about their struggles
with pregnancy and it's becoming less taboo to talk about it,
and which is helpful for so many because so many people,
a large part of the population, do struggle to get

(08:53):
pregnant and then to carry a child. Well, this this
hit deep. This is according to US Weekly, So here
what happened? Ashley revealed to all of us that she
suffered a pregnancy lost on Thursday, November twenty six. Then
her caption reads we delivered Christopher James at four pm,
the Bachelor lum who was thirty six years old. Caption

(09:14):
and Instagram post like his namesake my dad. He was
taken too early from us. His death as a result
of a cord being wrapped around his neck. He was
absolutely beautiful with my eyes and dark hair and Steve
her husband's nose and lips. The former reality start concluded
that she and her husband are devastated by the laws.
So everybody's almost famous podcast. Uh and and I can

(09:37):
think I can speak for all of us listening, all
of Bachelor Nation. Um is is there to mourn with you, Ashley,
to take a second today and just think about how
lucky we are if we have had a kid or
you know that we are alive in this earth like
it does you know it did for me, Ashley, was
it made me take a step back and and every
once a while we have these moments where like just

(09:57):
being alive, like just having breath, um feels so sacred,
like it almost just like shutters you in a and
just like appreciation and thankfulness and um, so we're just
we're thinking of you. Ashley and her husband Steve. During
this tough time. Uh. Moving on Kindle Long Reveals if
she'd returned to Bachelor in Paradise and US Weekly's Candle

(10:18):
Light Confessions, she said that she tries to live as
if she's not depending on Bachelor World to find her
future husband, because then she would just be holding off
on finding love. Um. However, she said, she's had nothing
but amazing experiences and it has worked her in the past,
so if it worked for her once, maybe it could
work for her twice. She said, I'm not trying to

(10:39):
put all my eggs in the bachelor basket. I'm still
dating and I'm still single. Huh. It's uh, well, hey,
Kendall is always one that is intriguing, right, There's like
a lot of curiosity around Kindle So who knows what's
gonna happen next, but the Bachelor next timeline is The
Bachelor finally dropped a bunch of new Matt James promos.
This according to Cosmo Allton. So in these promos, we

(11:02):
see a couple of things. We see a contestant rolling
up in a carriage. We see a contestant arriving in lingerie.
Like I discussed with you last week, there's a contestant
literally falling over um. Hence the all the puns that
will have about falling from Matt. Then, of course we
see lots of Matt wandering in the foliage of Pennsylvania shirtless.

(11:26):
And then we have this new phrase, the Matchlor. I
don't know if that's like gonna work it the match layer,
the bachelor of the Matchler. I guess, so do you
think about that? Isn't a stretch? I think. I don't
think it sticks. I think mattice something else. The sticks
like the match. I don't think people are gonna be
going down in town and be like if you watched
the Matchlor this week, it's no Wanuary or Prince Farming. No,

(11:51):
it's not. But it works. And again we're super pumped
for that season. We have a great season of the Bachelotte.
Like we said, we're gonna break down today with special
guest Kenny, and then we'll break down the episode between
Ashley and I. But it is super exciting, um to
know that matches right at a corner. Well, hey, speaking

(12:12):
of right around the corner, We're gonna talk to Kenny
in a little bit about paradise. Do you feel over
go on or who he thinks will go on, but
until we do. Chris Harrison reveals plans for Bachelor in
Paradise return. It's going to be a murders row of
choices of people that meant wow, I'll tell you what.
Chris Harrison is on one with the lines this year,
I was gonna say, what a word choice. So, I mean,

(12:35):
this has just been obvious to me. It's something that
I think about a bit. Because we didn't have a
Bachelor Bachelor in Paradise season. That means that all the
girls from Peter's season UM are in contention to be
on the season of Paradise, as well as the guys
from Claire Slash, Tacius, Susan, and then um the girls

(12:58):
from Matt's upcoming season. So I have to say the
guys have it way easy in getting a slot in Paradise,
and these girls are going to have to fight to
the nail to end up there. I mean they have
they better have stayed semi relevant if you're from Peter season,
and the girls from Matt season are going to have
to really come with a splash because there's still the

(13:18):
same amount of spots or Paradise and there are two
seasons of females to fill them. It's uh, it's gonna
be exciting. I mean, I'm really pumped. And I know
a lot of fans out there who just really I mean,
some Bachelor Nation fans just watch Paradise like they don't
watch the regular seasons. They just love Paradise. I know
there's a lot of people anxious and excited about this
season of Paradise and the fact that it is in

(13:40):
the works and there are plans being made, uh just
gets me all riled up. Well, hey, uh, we do
have Kenny coming on in just a second. Before we do,
let's take a break, uh, and we'll bring Kenny on
and then again a little bit. Well if Caitlin Bristow
talking about her time on Dance with the Stars, Okay, guys,

(14:06):
I mean it would be wrong if I didn't introduce
the boy band manager Kenny. Kenny's on the line right now.
He was sadly eliminated last week. Kenny, your last name
is Brash. Yeah, yeah, that's right, all right, Kenny Brash.
It's still a lot, Kenny. You gotta tell me, like,
who do what boy bands? Do you manage? Is this

(14:28):
really your occupation or did they just give you this
title because you have fantastic boy band hair. You actually like, uh,
it's actually true. To believe it or not. It looks
like a joke, but um it's it's a it's a
boy band tribute band. So we we actually better. It

(14:53):
is better. So like when we play you would see
you know, we we cover in sinc Bactory Boys, One Direction,
all Ben's favorites. Basically, this is my didn come true.
Can we watch? What's their name? It's just it's the
Boyband Night. Uh and like after the night brothers like

(15:15):
come on. It's sort of named as an event, so
it's like you're going out and it's boyband Night. So
that's kind of where the name came from. So it's
it's the boy Band Night Chicago on Instagram. But it's
a full band. It's like seven pieces, full band, the
whole deal. It's cool. Do they all have great boyband hair? Uh?
Well they did. I don't know. I wouldn't go that far. Yeah,

(15:38):
they used to. Okay, how many bachelorette parties turn out
to boyband Night? Uh? That's our bread and butter. Actually,
So when we first started doing this thing, that that
was like our crowd was like a ton of bachelor parties.
Um the cluel. I mean, I don't know. The the

(16:00):
beauty of the act is that it's it draws like
eighty five women, which bars love to hear that when
we play there, it actually is an amazing contint like
it's a it's a I mean you should see Ashley
right now. She is literally her shoulders over her ear.
She's so giddy and anxious. I mean, I'm just gonna

(16:20):
stay quiet, Kenny, honestly, like I was excited to meet you.
I'm gonna sit back here. I have only one big
question for you that I'm gonna save to the end.
So Ashley, you just keep this boy band thing going
because I know this is your bread and butter. Okay,
thank you, thank you, because I was gonna it was
gonna be a real down or if we had to
get into the show right now, he's your favorite boy band. Uh.

(16:42):
You know I always go and sync only because I
like justin timber Lake. You know, I'm I'm a big
JT guy. Yeah. Well, I mean, like I do have
so many and like they're different nostalgic periods of my
life associated with each, but I usually go in and sync,
but New Kids on the Block is really really close
for like personal reasons. But then but then, like musically

(17:07):
I have to say, I think like the most timeless
music comes from Backstreet. Yeah I agree, back I think
as an actual boy band band Backstreet because they're still
they're still like yeah, yeah, there's still. We actually did
a we did a thing with a J in January. Uh.
He was doing like a little side thing and he

(17:28):
like we we we played and he played with like
a DJ and it was kind of cool. But for fun,
I was gonna say, all the boy banders you've met,
who has been your favorite? Because a J is definitely
up there on my list. He what a kind soul
he was on his podcast. Oh nice, Yeah he's he
was awesome. It was cool. We had him at where
I work, Miss I work at a venue in here

(17:50):
in Chicago, and he came out and he was cool,
like he hung out the whole day they were there.
We played. It was pretty awesome. Now a J has
a podcast with my Heart right, yeah, yeah, that's a
big deal. So give a little shout out to a
J's podcast, which is called Pretty Messed Up. It's a
good podcast and he's a nice guy. Nice guy. Okay, Well, um,

(18:15):
I will move on to other categories of your life
that I find to be very interesting, like the fact
that you you hate cheese. Now, then I think that
I don't know where the hell that came from. I
think they had they made that up. I mean, I don't.
I don't put cheese on a lot of but like
I'll eat cheese sometimes. Ben's pissed right now. No, I'm

(18:38):
actually all for this one, Like cheese messing up. Cheese
messes me up, like it's cheese and I don't get along. Um,
I eat it, but it doesn't we don't get along.
Uh No. In fact, this is a great conversation because Kenny,
when somebody asked me about the almost famous podcast who
doesn't listen to you know how, I explain it to them.
And I've never told Ashley this. So I say, I say,
I have this amazing co host as Ken Eddie, who

(19:00):
could not be more different than me, like in every
interest in life, and so I oftentimes feel like the
dad who sits here and learns about what's going on
going on in pop culture because Ashley doesn't miss a thing,
like when it comes to boy bands, who's in a
relationship with who, who's hot and who's not? Like Ashley
is on top of it where and so like, my

(19:21):
job is super easy. My job is literally to sit
here and know nothing ever and just comment as we go.
It's a great job. It's a good gig. I gotta
apply for that job. Man, Well, you can't take it's
locked up. Well, hey, I want to start with my
question here, um, because we do have a lot of
the show to talk about. My question to you, Kenny

(19:42):
is how many buttons is too many buttons to be appropriate?
I think we I came to the uh conclusion that
three is appropriate. Anything past three is inappropriate, which I surpassed.
So for a guy like I think there was a
comment made in this season. I don't know if he
was by clear tass or somebody said, like Kenny literally

(20:04):
doesn't have an ounce of hair on his body. So
a guy like me who his head honestly, yeah, it's
it's all going to the right places. Um. So for
a guy like me who uh likes to stay warm
in the summer, Um, how many buttons is inappropriate for me?
Or you got a lot of you got a lot

(20:24):
of us? Yeah, I gotta I got a thick sweater.
I got a thick sweater. Yeah, maybe I wouldn't go
past one then because unless it doesn't pop out, like
does it keeps it trimmed? I just you know, I
was watching this season. It was something I'm always interested
in when it comes to watching every season, is what's fashionable,
what's going on, Like, what what guys are doing? What

(20:46):
to you know, stay in shape? And I watched you
and I said, there's nothing that Kenny has it. I have, uh,
your your tan, uh, you have a lack of hair,
but yet you have a full mount of hair on
your head. So I'm just impressed with you. And that's
really all I needed from this whole interview was just like, Hey,
how many buttons can I I'm button because it feels sexy.

(21:07):
I'm a chest hair fan, so I love like the
old school. I have another band that does like seventies
soft rock, and it's like, oh my god, I have
to go to Chicago. My other thing. There's boy bands
and soft rock. Okay, Like I know, Richard Marks is
more of like an eighties early nineties guy, but like, oh,

(21:28):
I can get just as passionate about Richard Marks as
I can about in sync. Continue, Sorry, Kenny, Yeah, no,
that was just that that like we do that. Those
guys have the chest hair out and the open shirt.
They're a little they're a little overweight. They got mustaches
and all the beard and and it's it's pretty cool.
So just like me. That's what you're saying you right now?

(21:50):
Cool man? That feels good. Hey Kenny, how many women
have you met at these concerts that come out because
they're so geared toward women pretty much your age, your
you're you're the older guys right your thirty six? Holy crap,
how is that possible? Look at this man? Yeah, i'd
say your twenty nine. Looking at you on this time,

(22:12):
I'm not trying to hire you up. That's insane. All right,
thank you, thank you. I was the oldest after after
Night one, so I think Jeremy was forty and he
got after he got eliminated. I was the oldest for
pretty much the whole time. What is how did that feel? Um?
Because I was the youngest, which you know obviously as
we see with this week, like you know, Noah and

(22:34):
I were the same age when we're on the show. Um,
and that was its own unique challenges right to kind
of prove that you had what it takes to be
in a relationship. Or when you get the question are
you really ready to settle down? You you'd have to
come to your head and say, I think so. I
don't really know, but I believe I am. What is
it like to be the oldest sitting in that room? Um?
I mean I personally I loved being the oldest, but

(22:57):
I also don't People don't think I'm my age, but
at least my my thought process. I've seen a lot
of and experience a lot of being my age. So
it's cool to like look younger but also be able
to like think older, if that makes any sense. Um,
but like some of the like there's younger guys like

(23:17):
Noah and likedmar Is there like the same age, but
Damar was like super more mature. He came off more
mature than Noah. I felt like, So it's like I
think it's age. Does there is a thing with age,
But it's also the maturity level too that I don't
know if that makes sense, but totally makes sense. We

(23:38):
see ages a big you know theme in this week's episode.
Is it Easy to Date in Chicago? As the manager
of these bands who have so many women around your
age coming out to and then yeah, like, how is it?
Have you had good luck with women? Why going the
bats are at? Um? Yeah, I mean, honestly, I haven't

(24:02):
had great luck. I haven't. I primarily been single for
the majority of my adult life, outside of one relationship
that I had a few years ago, or I am
not that long ago, kind of maybe about eight months
before bachelort I was I had a relationship sort of

(24:23):
that was ending at that point. Um. But it's actually
kind of like I've been in the music venue banned
industry forever like twenty years almost now, and it's just
it's a pretty difficult, uh industry to be in and
also like keep a relationship. So The Bachelor was good

(24:46):
because when they when they when they were asking me
about going on, I'm like, well, ain't working for me
under normal circumstances, so maybe this this would work out.
So that that was kind of the approach with that
is because too many nights out. Um, it used to
be that. It used to be that, but I kind
of I kind of cooled that down a few a

(25:08):
few years back. You know, I don't really drink anymore.
I'm I pulled the Houdini at the shows, like I
dip out the back door when no one's looking. I
don't say bye to nobody. I go to bed early now.
But so, what is it then? I mean, okay, outside
of kind of your lifestyle, because you have pulled it back,

(25:30):
like we from my memory of the show, we didn't
get to really see what it is like that has
caused you to not be able to date or get
out there. What do you think is holding you back? Um?
I I just think it's me just being like not
wanting to just settle for anything. I don't know, I'm

(25:51):
just very I don't know if I don't want to
say it's like I have walls up or anything. Because
I went into the show fully prepared to just let
what ever happened happened. But I also wasn't going to
force anything. And that's kind of how I am. Like,
you know, I I hung out, you hang out with girls,
and I just some stuff could have worked, probably and

(26:12):
I just didn't let it. The one main relationship I
had before the show probably could have worked h if
if I you know, if we wanted it to. But
she had moved the Chicago and it became a long
distance relationship and it became very difficult. Um, but it's

(26:32):
probably just me, I mean, just not wanting to just
it's just not wanting to settle for not to steal Clais,
like settle for guys like that line. But just I
don't know. I'm just I'm not a post anything. It's
just hasn't happened. I guess, I don't know. Speaking of Claire,
described Claire and then described Tasia and your experiences with them,

(26:57):
good question. Oh man, Well, it's to me it was
they were polar opposite. Clear I I I don't even
know how to put that into words. Uh. And don't
get me wrong, She's she's not a bad person. I
have nothing bad to say. I just the whole the

(27:19):
way that whole thing went down, it was to me,
it just was like she was already dating Dale before
I stepped out of the limo. It seemed like so
I felt like she was closed off to everybody else,
no matter what. So but when Tasha came in, she
was like all about wanting to spend time with everybody,

(27:42):
like wanting to get to know everybody, like have a
convert even if if it's a few minutes. With Clear,
it was like I went like a couple of episodes
with like I didn't even talk to her for more
than like four seconds on like a group date, you know,
you know what I mean. So it was like with Tasia,
was like I spent time with Tasha like a lot,
even though it was like the same amount of time

(28:04):
that I was there with Claire as I was with Tassia,
but I spent a million more time, million more whatever Withasia. Yeah,
and then uh, and just Tasia just was I don't know,
she was just it just seemed like a more a
lot I don't know, I don't want to say nicer,
but just she just came off a lot easier to

(28:24):
talk to, sweeter, which, like I said, Claire might be
all of those things, but she just wasn't having it
with anybody else. I didn't think, Well, it's interesting because
you know Tasha. Tasha, I think, you know, has done
a terrific job at engaging in conversation and trying to
get to know the goodness. I mean, it's been maybe
the best I've ever seen done. And so what was

(28:46):
it like then sitting in the house because I'm from
my experience on the show. You know, it was very
clear to us during our show who Caitlin was most into,
and that changed it kind of it went back and
forth a little bit, like as we got farther along,
all of us were kind of more on a balanced
playing field, I felt like, But when you do start

(29:08):
to sense that, hey, she's really into this guy, and
I feel like I'm just like tagging along and kind
of getting in the way, it's a really hard feeling
when you're in an environment that is so un uh unfamiliar,
and you start to question a lot. What was it
like sitting in the house while Claire was there, feeling like, yeah,
she's not that into me, but I'm here and I
don't really know why. You know, what happened was and

(29:32):
since since since a lot of the guys felt that
way because of the way things were going down. What
really happened is like the guy has sort of became
very close the you know, that's that's kind of what happened.
And and there was I mean outside of obviously Dale, uh,
you know, Blake a little bit, and Jason while he

(29:53):
was you know, Jason, while Claire was still you know,
because he didn't leave untill Claire left. But there was
only what two, three, may eight four guys that thought
they had something going on with her and the rest
of us kind of. I mean, not everybody was as
vocal as me probably about saying like, hey, she's not
in anybody right now, but I'm sure the guys felt it. Um,
but we came out. We're super close like that. The

(30:15):
group of guys that were left after Claire left, Um,
we're still to this day pretty pretty close to each other.
I know that might fizzle out at some point, but
that's kind of That's kind of what it became. It
felt like it was just our house and like Claire
was not even part of it anymore. It was just like, hey,
this is our place now. It was weird. Are any

(30:37):
of these guys coming across totally different all the episodes
and they did in person? Um? Or is there somebody
who's not being highlighted enough that you loved and thought
deserved more attention? Yeah? Well, you know what, there was
some of the sweetest guys and the greatest guys. We're

(30:59):
quiet and they didn't know, so you're not seeing him
as much. You're starting starting to know a little bit
like Ivan Brendan um Zack see even Ben, you know,
like those dudes like they weren't involved in like drama
or sort of outspoken about that's going on. So um

(31:23):
But honestly, like those guys are like the nicest dudes
and the sweet like the sweetest guys. Like those guys
are unbelievable, and I think people are still obviously, I
think they're starting to get people are starting to see
that now, but it's taken how many weeks before people
actually knew those guys too much. It's taken longer than
any other season. It's so wild because I think it

(31:45):
was like episode four or even five where I was like,
I can't believe we're four or five weeks into this
and I still don't feel like I know these guys.
I don't feel attached to any of them, Like this
a weak group or is it just because of like
the way that Claire has carried this season? And now
in week are we week eight already, I'm like, Holy Moley,

(32:06):
they're fantastic. I love them. This is a great group.
But in the turnaround happened fast, thankfully, because I just
can't believe how long I went feeling detached from them.
Um do you did you ever see Bennett break character? No?

(32:26):
I have a theory actually after this week's episode. I
don't think he I don't. I think we've been saying
it's a character character, but it's really it's him. Well,
as let's ask Kenny, he knows him better, Like is
it him putting on a like a front or is
that just who he is? No, that's that's that's a
that there there's no character there. He's just a character

(32:48):
and that's him. He is a character. He was just
I mean, you can't make this up with this guy.
I mean where I don't even know where he came from,
but it's him. It came from Harvard. Um you. So
I wonder if he's confused by the fact that we
all think that he's hilarious because he's playing a character
and leaning into this caricature. Sorry that there's no other

(33:11):
word to say it. And now is is he puzzled
by the fact that we are so entertained by him?
Or like, is he possibly offended or is he like, oh,
people just like me. I just I think he just
thinks people just like him, like he just said. I
don't think he's He's a Harvard guy, so he was.
He expects everybody to like him. He expects all this,

(33:32):
you know. He he would have been pissed if he
didn't get all that. Well. Another behind the scenes question
would be this week, there's a really interesting thing that
happens where Blake makes this like, uh, penis at a
clay and and so, and then like the storyline starts
to shift to like, hey, this is just too Blake

(33:52):
is He always talks about sex. Everything is about sex,
but we've never seen it. So for me as a fan,
I was like, I don't know what they're talking about. Now,
can you live in the house with him? This is Blake?
Like what do they mean when they say this? Yeah,
I don't know. Blake always had some story with some
weird stories about just random just so when he made

(34:13):
the penis out of clay, it was like, oh, that's
classic Blake. It's just alright. So, Kenny, you're giving us
so much good behind the scenes gossip. We want a
little bit more from you, but we're going to have
to do that right after this break. Kenny. We saw

(34:43):
you leave last week, which was obviously sad. Did you
expect it or not? Um? So I I sort of did,
um just because that the day before the group date
was the truth or dare and then that night at
the cocktail part of it. Um, I just I don't know.

(35:05):
Me and her head are a little time together, and
I could just I could just tell that she one,
I I know, she didn't think I could be serious
because I was always kind of just having fun. But um,
which isn't true. I mean I could be serious, but
we didn't have enough time together for her to see
that side of me. But I just I just had
a feeling that things weren't clicking. Um. She she was

(35:28):
always like sort of like I mean, and her retire,
you know that that was the one thing about the switch.
Like me and Claire were the same age, patious ten
years younger than me, So that kind of threw things
off for me a little bit. And um, she she
always brought up like I live in Chicago, she lives
in l A. Like when I moved to l A.
That came up in a lot of conversations, and I just,

(35:49):
I don't know, I just got the I just think
that she just didn't think that it wasn't gonna pan out,
you know, which which is fine, it's probably true. So
Chason also got eliminated that at that Row ceremony, and
he had like a weird storyline like first it seems
like she really liked him, he's maybe kind of front runner.
Then there was drama, then the drama kind of disappeared,

(36:10):
and then he was eliminated. Can you giuse a little
more insight as to what happened with him? Like who
he was in the house? Um, yeah, yeah, it was.
It was kind of strange how things panned out. What Chasing,
the whole Chase and Ed thing. Um, at the end
of the day, like Chasing is like he was one
of the dudes. He was very cool, uh, nice guy. Um,

(36:33):
you know he was. I don't know, it was that
that whole like that whole bickering thing. I'm not I'm
not sure. Uh if that, you know, obviously didn't work.
I think it hurts Chasing obviously. Uh, I'm not sure
if it helped Chasing or Ed in the long run,
or if it hurt him. I guess I don't know,
or it's just nothing, but I think that all that

(36:55):
bolt that was going on probably through Tassia off and
just you know, it's like if there's too much. She
might have just moved on to the next guy and
sort of just he might have just got kind of
screwed on it, I think. But at the end of
the day, like Jason, he's a good dude to me,
you know, I like him. He's still a friend of mine. Yeah. Well, uh, Kenny,

(37:17):
we did a good question from one of our listeners. Uh,
and I think it's a fun one. You can put
your name in this category if you want. If you
don't want to, don't worry about it. But uh, they
wrote in and said, which men do you think we'll
go to Paradise? Which men do you think will leave
this season? And we'll never hear from again? So can
you I'll throw it to you if you had your

(37:37):
list of expected paradise people. And hey, if you know
how this season plays out, please this is not a
spoiler show. Uh, you know you could just you don't
have to go there. But what who are some guys
that come to mind? Um? You know, I just from
where we are now, I feel like, yeah, I feel like,

(37:58):
you know, maybe Bennett Um, Blake, Um, maybe Chasten Uh
and you know some of the I just I feel
like those the guys that were a little more outspoken
and stuff and more involved. I'd say those those those ones,

(38:19):
uh maybe even I don't know, like like I said,
some of that, I don't know like that, Like I
named those other four guys, they were a little bit quieter,
but they're starting to come out of the shell a
little bit. Uh, they're you know, more of the sweeter
guy category. But definitely I feel like Bennett Blake chasing
type situation. I think, what about your substance? What about you? Um?

(38:44):
I mean, if if I get the invitation, I'm in
you know, uh, you know, I'm in for it. I
just I don't know. What do you think? Man? Well,
I think you'd be great at it. I mean, we'll
come on like you're you're set up for it. I'm
like I said earlier, your wardrobe is already set up
for the beach. I mean, it's if if it's hot outside,

(39:06):
unbund a couple of buttons and nobody's gonna question you
on that. And that's great. But yeah, I mean the
guys that come to my mind, I think you gotta
throw some of those quieter guys in there, right, You
have to throw some of the guys that are that
are super nice, super sweet, little quiet out of the drama.
I think those are the guys that you see really
find relationships in Paradise. Then you always have the shocker
that finds a relationship in Paradise, like the more outspoken guys. UM,

(39:30):
I think you're I think you'd be a great choice.
I think Bennett's gonna be there just because he's he's
been it, and I think he's got to be I mean,
we're saying this is not knowing what happens to him
next week, but you're right, But I think we're all
saving that Benedetation may not be living happily ever after.
It's hard to say. It's hard to say, but yeah,

(39:51):
that's uh, that would be my thought. I think there's
a good group. I think Paradise will be a lot
of fun this year because you have taken a year
off and it's gonna be stacked with some incredible, incredible people.
I want to I want to wrap this interview up
with who was the front runner in your mind when
you left? So like, not now, not after this episode,

(40:13):
not knowing what you know in your men group chat,
but when you left, UM, when I did my exit interview.
I knew there was two. Could I name two? Or
do you want one? Oh? No, no no, no, you can
name two. So when I when I left that night, UM,
I said Brendan Or and or Ivan were my like favorites.

(40:35):
That's it's to end up with t. I love that
you just mentioned two people that are quieter like. I
like that we don't have this like clear cut front
runner that we're all like, holy cow, she's head over
heels four and like this is over with. I like
that we're I mean, I'm on edge so many weeks
in going. I don't know who she's going to choose.
There's some great guys, but like, I don't know who
it is. So I'm glad you said that. And it's

(40:58):
and it's so close to the end and there's still
like so many guys that could be. It's it's cool,
it's cool. I agree with you. Ben, there's no clear
cut front hunter. But dude, do I have the vibes
of the finale game between Ben and Zach Ben? That's
that's really in there that I would not have chosen
that really, I know. I mean, we'll talk about him

(41:22):
later and they talk about it later, but I'll tell
you why Ben's doing something that are really thrown me off.
But I'm I'm trying to vibe optation. This is great. Hey,
can you you're the best man. Thanks for coming on.
Wishing you all the luck. I know that right now
during COVID especially, your industry has been hit hard, um

(41:42):
and so we're rooting for your thinking about you and
thanks for taking your time and coming on the Holmelest
Famous podcast. Thank you man, Thanks guys, Thanks Ashley, thank you.
It's been a pleasure. Bye bye bye. Now we're going
from Kenny to Caitlin the Dancing Queen herself. Let's get
her on the phone. Hi, guys, Hello Lan. She is

(42:05):
the Chapion my friends queen, and she is the bachelor
Queen to the She's been really big into the singing
thing on the podcast recently. It's it's it's really dancing
Queen to the end. Songbird over there. Actually, Caitlin, how
in the world do you have any energy right now?

(42:26):
I don't. I don't know how I'm doing it. I well,
you know what, I'll tell you how because I got
out of bed at noon today and I've been just
sleeping as much as possible, and so coffee and sleep
has been my best friend. What kind of coffee you've
got in there? Like? Is that a good holiday drink? No,
I'm so boring. It's just a black Americano you not
from Starbucks? Those are hard I agree, I you know what,

(42:50):
I just I'm going to take what I can get
at this point. It's not generous, so I don't care
what it is. Um, it's not generous coffee that that
hurts my feelings. But well why wait, why is it
not generous coffee? I'm so sorry. You know what, I'll
do better than that next time. Thank you, Caitlin. You
know I was gonna offer to send you some coffee,
but then I heard it. Uh. A comment by Charles

(43:11):
Barkley this week on the Match and he says, you
know the best part about being rich and famous, uh
is all the free stuff you get. And so I'm
not sending you anything because you just want to dance
with the stars. You can afford it, you know what,
I think? I think the best part obviously I'm not
rich and famous, but I'm like you, no, no, I'm

(43:31):
almost famous. The best part for me about like having
friends that are like got their own business is going
on is supporting them, So let me buy your coffee.
Thank you, Caitlin, You're the best. Hey, uh, Caitlin, let's
get to it. You've done I've done a lot of
stuff recently. I want to backtrack too. I don't know
how many months ago it's been now, Um, but you know,

(43:53):
obviously we've spent some time together. I always have known
that Dance with the Stars is something that you've been
super passionate about, super sided for it's fit you. Actually
I talked about like if this show was made for you,
and it feels like it had to happen at some
point it did. My question for you is why. Now
that's a great question, ben Um. I think things happen

(44:15):
in life for a reason. Um. I believe that if
I went on the show five years ago when I
had the contract, I don't think I would have won.
I don't think I was in the right headspace. I
don't think Artem was actually supposed to be my partner.
I don't think we would have been the team that
we were today. And I think that the universe works
in these magical ways where five years later, after dreaming

(44:38):
about it and thinking about it, I could appreciate it
more and be in a better physical mental state of
my life to do what I needed to do to
win it. I recently had Jenna Johnson on my other
podcasts and she know she lost to you, which is,
you know, good for us, but sad for her. Yeah.

(45:01):
She said that there is no sort of choosing your partner.
You can't send little notes saying like I want to
be partnered with this person. How did you get to
be with Arnhem? I think, I mean, I'm sure you
can do that. Whether they take it and say okay,
we'll do that for you, I doubt it. But um,
I honestly, I honestly didn't really care who I got

(45:23):
because I was just so excited to be there. But
when I found out Artem was coming back on the show,
I just thought it was serendipitous that we were supposed
to be partners five years ago and now we get
to be partners. And um, I just love his style
of dancing. I've always loved his choreography on the show.
And I guess I just got super lucky. I don't
know if they were like, oh, they're supposed to be partners,

(45:44):
that would be really cool if they were again, um
and this time it worked out. But um, I would
have been happy with anyone. But now going through everything,
I'm like, he's my partner for life. M h. Now,
we always hear from people who've gone on the show.
One I just had to clarify something. You said he
was supposed to be your partner years ago? Were you
like on? Like were you going on the show? Like,
I don't remember this, Okay, So five years ago I

(46:07):
was supposed to go on, but because of contracts and
certain things, I ended up not being able to go
on UM. And it was so last minute that Artom
actually didn't get to dance that season because of it.
So yeah, five years ago I was supposed to UM,
but still under other contracts and couldn't do it. That
makes sense. Well, um, we always hear from people who
have gone the show how difficult the process is, like
physically difficult. Can you give us a picture behind the scenes.

(46:32):
I think it would help us all, like even admire
your accomplishments to a great amount. They're so ugly. My
feet are the ugliest feet. Like I remember from how
old was I when I went on point shoes? I
was young. I remember getting my first pair of point
shoes and going in and I was like, oh, my
feet will never look the same um and it's it's

(46:53):
actually such a grind to be on that show. And
I've had friends that have been on it, and they
all told me, you know how how challenging physically demanding
it was, and even mentally challenging because of the hours
and lack of sleep and pain that goes in through
your body. But it's crazy. I mean, you're in the
studio for six hours a day, seven days a week,
there's no days off, and you're putting your body through

(47:16):
stuff that you've never done before for hours and hours
and hours, and in heels and you're doing these lifts
and certain things that you've never done before. I actually
have an X ray coming up because I think I
fractured a rib. I can't even breathe in fully right
now without killing me. My feet are torn apart. Every
day was just an actual grind because I think Artem

(47:36):
and I really we were. We both were on the
same page with wanting to work so hard. So we
got in there and it was like no messing around.
We just danced our butts off for six hours a day,
and I both of us were just dancing through injuries
the whole time. What was your greatest relief like when
you got home from practice, Like, what did you look
forward to? Oh? My gosh, honestly, thank the Lord Jason

(48:00):
Tardi because obviously the dogs. I would come in the
house and the dogs acted like they haven't seen me
in their whole lives. It was so magical. But Jason
would always make sure that there was a glass of
wine ready for me, that if we wanted like Postmates
or sushi, or he would cook like he always just
made sure when I came home it was the most
zen atmosphere because he always knew how stressed out I was.

(48:23):
The first few weeks that I was there, I'm like,
nothing could basee me. I'm so happy of the dance studio.
And then once, you know, weeks and weeks of doing
something like that I was, I would come home and
just be like, how am I gonna do this for
however many more weeks? But at the same time, trying
to have so much gratitude for just being there. I
tried to love every blister, appreciate my like strength with

(48:44):
battling through ankle injuries and rib injuries because it was
all just part of it. And can we just talk
about Jason being like the greatest cheerleader of all time.
It was almost as much fun watching him react to
your performances and you're a win that it was watching
you win, Caitlin. I know you're busy, and I know
you've got a lot going on, so we're gonna let

(49:05):
you go here in a second. But I do want
to ask you, um, something I've been wondering because you,
like if you have listened at all, Like we're so
happy for you and celebrating you. Um, but there's this
thing that happens in the world where you have this
like pinnacle moment and you've done something that you've hoped
for for five years and you finally made it happen,

(49:27):
and you just didn't make it happen, you want it
Like you are the champion of this thing. You were
the best, You were the fan favorite. I can't even
imagine how that feels to know that people out there
voter treaty like you that much. Um, what now and
like what is next? Like how does it feel now
to be in a place that this has happened. I

(49:48):
am such a freak, Like I swear to God I said, Okay,
once I I think I think a lot of people
can relate this to um to this to where you say,
once I have this, I'm gonna be so happy and
fulfilled and status. I don't once I do this and
if I get this, I'll be so happy, and obviously
I am, but I'm always like, Okay, once I get
the mirrorball, that's it. I'm like, I'm going to focus

(50:09):
on my podcast at home, I'm going to just be
like involved in my businesses and have babies. And then
now that it's here, I'm like, oh wait, I just
got the mirrorball. What else could I do? Uh? So
I don't know. I mean, I really don't know what's
next or what even my plans are. I'm kind of
just like at this point of course in I'm like, uh,

(50:32):
I would love to go just spend time with family.
That's what I've been craving so much. I'm so close
with my family and i'ven't seen them in almost a
year and that's the longest I've ever gone in my life,
and it's just devastating. All I want to do is
go just spend quality time with people that I love
right now and that's really difficult. So I have no
idea what's coming next. Um, maybe maybe more music, just

(50:54):
because I love doing that. I find writing and singing
so therapeutic and it actually really helps with my anxiety
when I write music. And maybe I'll do that because
I'm in Nashville. Yeah, well music fits you. You're obviously
really good at it. Um, Caitlin, we are gonna um
in this here, we are going to bring you back
for your holiday gift guide because obviously who would give

(51:15):
better gifts than Caitlin Bristow. But Caitlin, we are so
happy for you ash and I've been celebrating you. Um.
It's really cool to be so on team Caitlin. So
congratulations from all of us here at the Almost Famous Podcast.
Thank you. Thank you guys so much. You guys are
always so supportive and sweet and great. I'm just so
lucky to have you both as friends and love being
on the podcast. Thank you. Know well, you are truly inspiring.

(51:38):
It's like when you want to do something, you do it,
and you do it so so well. Thank you guys.
Let's start off with Zach's one on one date. Then,
why is it that every guy who gets a one
on one becomes my new favorite. It was like, first

(51:58):
I didn't even know who Rendon was, and then Brendan
became a favorite, then who with the one on one? Who? Ivan? Oh?
And then I loved Ivan And now this week we
get Zack and I feel like he's my front runner. Now, well,
can I share a theory with you? I think we
had such low expectations for these guys because we didn't

(52:20):
know them, and we were so disappointed, like three or
four weeks into the season, where we're like, wait, none
of these guys we know, we don't know them, We're
not going to know them, We're not gonna have connection
with any of them. So when a guy finally shows
up and we actually get to know their story, which, again,
as we say every year, when you know somebody's story,
it's really hard to hate them. Why do the in depth?
Yes exactly, It's why we do the in depths. But

(52:43):
like once you hear people's stories and you you start
to go, wait, no, this guy would be great for Tasha,
or this guy would be great for somebody, Like they
just become your favorite because you're hoping for that for
so long. Yeah, Well, I have to say with Zach,
the way that they look at each other, like you
can feel this energy, like a little bit of like

(53:03):
sexual tension, a little bit. You feel the nerves and
the butterflies that you don't with some other people. You
can feel their walls going up, which in some ways
is a good sign. And they even discussed this last
week where she was like, I feel my walls going
up with you, which almost makes it feel like there's
something so strong there that you're trying to protect yourself

(53:26):
from from it, you know, and I'm with you, there's
something that I mean. However, we said this for last
couple of weeks, Like, I think Tasha has done a
tremendous job of getting you know, the guys. I also
think this is gonna be really hard for her in
the end, because what Tassia has done is she's invested
herself into each one of these relationships, and she's connected

(53:47):
with these guys in ways that we don't usually see
on a season three weeks in. I mean, she's only
a couple of weeks into her season, right, and she's
so deep now into it that like we we hear
the Zach conversation, we hear the Ivan conversations, we hear
the Brending conversations and we're like, wait, there's something special here. Well,
because Tasia is allowing and I think these guys are too.

(54:07):
I don't don't dismiss the guy's work here, but like
they're allowing something special to happen. And that's when things
get really fun for the show, but it also gets
really hard for the lead. Yeah, all these guys have
had stories to unveil during these one on ones. So
when I first saw that they were going to do
wedding pictures, I was like, are you freaking kidding me?
We're doing wedding pictures again. But this is my favorite

(54:30):
wedding picture date because both of them were so uh
not really thrilled about doing it because they both have
been married before. And then we find out for the
first time that Zach was married and he has this
huge his like heavy history. Uh can I can I
make a comment here? I'm really not a fan of

(54:51):
these wedding picture dates, Like, no, me neither, because you
think that that moment should just be reserved for the
actual wedding day. Yeah, and like most of these dates
that are done on the show, like, yes, they're luxurious
and you like we would never be able to do
them without the show. However, they're like at least somewhat accomplishable,

(55:12):
meaning like you can at least say, like think, Okay,
I could maybe if I had enough money flying a
helicopter and land at some beautiful island. But like, who
in the right mind would ever go on a first
date and say, let's go get wedding pictures? Like this
is just like so awkward at every level. Okay, you

(55:32):
actually have a fantastic point there. I felt like this
of all the wedding date pictures, this one worked the
most just because they both have been married before. But
I also agree with you when you take it out
of the contacts of the show, how freaking bizarre is it?
And I do think it's a sacred moment that should
be shared shared only on that day. Uh, I can't

(55:55):
actually imagine. I would actually be pretty passed if I
had to put on a wedding dress which I never
had to you on the show, and then show a
guy who wasn't going to end up being my husband.
It would be weird. Ash well, Hey, speaking of sacred moments,
this whole date with him at the you know, evening
portion felt very sacred. Uh. They both opened up and
and related on many things. Like you'd mentioned, they've both

(56:17):
been married before. But then we got to know more
of Zach. Zach could kind of hinted before that, hey,
there's a lot more to him than she knows. And
he shared it during this date that you know, he had, uh,
suffered from a brain tumor um and had that removed.
But at the same time he opened up about his
kind of shortcomings when it came to his first marriage

(56:37):
and then how he kind of spiraled from there. Um,
I don't know, maybe it's just me and and maybe
there's a better way to say this, but anytime there's
vulnerability to this level, like where you know, it's not
just somebody saying the right words at the right time
to make something work. No, when it's when somebody's sharing
something that they know could be criticized, they know is

(57:00):
going to have a mixed opinion. It's scary, but it's
their story. Like, I gain a lot of respect for
anybody on this show that does that because I think it.
I want to it fits into their their relationship and
it makes them know each other better. But second, it's
not easy to do especially when cameras are around. So
I had a lot of I had a lot of

(57:20):
love for Zach coming off of this date me too,
And you can see that he's just recovered so well
from the stuff that he's been through and it made
him a better man. In the end, he comes across
very mature. I really like it for Tasia now to
skip ahead for a bit, because we are going to
continue to break down this episode, but it is the
right time to do this. Now we have all this

(57:41):
love for Zach and we've seen him open up and
be vulnerable, and we've also seen him share like, hey,
things have been a little messy, Like my story is
not simple and it's complex and there's a lot of
different things to it. Now we see in the preview
for the rest of the season, and at the end
of the episode it looks like Zach. Something happens with

(58:01):
Zack that he becomes like almost the villain or there's
something that goes wrong. Now, again, these are previews, and
they always are meant to get us talking, and they're
always meant to get us like shaken up. But that
was a little bit like sad for me to see,
I think coming off of this date me too. I'm
trying to write it off as just one line that
is out of context. I think that he's going to

(58:24):
go very far. What I also liked about what we
see from Zack at the very end is in like
kind of like the blooper or like lighthearted feeling clip
that we get during the credits. We saw that not
only does she drive with his serious side, but very
much with his lighthearted side too, and they were having
a blast on that ferris wheel. It was just like
a fun, very real life moment. Yeah, it feels like

(58:47):
they're comfortable with each other and they're connected. I do.
I think Zax and we go far. Well, so we
see the drama in the house with the guys hoping
for the one on one. Well, uh, we obviously see
that the group date is called and uh, but the
men on this group they have to walk into I
think a scene that like I was on the edge
of my seat actually, and here's why. You know, The

(59:08):
Bachelor got a lot of flak for the Dodgeball date
at the beginning of the season, and I was like,
are they going to do this again? Like, are they are?
Are we gonna? Are we about to see these dudes
getting naked again on this season. Even Blake makes fun
of it. He's like the third time all be getting naked. Yeah,
I mean absolutely wild, because there's just there's just nothing
about being naked on national television, and especially when you're

(59:30):
like you know this girl, but you don't know where
that well, like none of that feels good to me,
Like I would hate like and maybe I look at
from my own perspective and that's probably a fault, but
like I and not even really any moral high ground,
just like I couldn't do that, Like I just wouldn't.
I don't want to do that. No, I'm the kind
of person that even in a locker room, like was

(59:50):
always like covering up every little bit of myself in
high school. Like I'm just not a publicly naked person,
like even like my sister has really never seen me naked. It.
But the date turns to be something kind of fun.
I mean, yes, there's two people, you know, their their
professional models that are posing for these guys and they
start to get you know, the artistic side of things,

(01:00:10):
which you know, I think was awesome that the show
really is highlighting art. Now this was art, like this
was them expressing themselves and creative ways, and they had
a couple of different avenues to do that. Um, but
they're still going on this whole time, this Bennett and
Noah thing, Like it's just starting to like fester and
it's becoming now less funny to me and more just

(01:00:32):
annoying that it continues to be Like I mean, I'll
say it, and it's not going to be a fan
favorite here. It feels like Bennett is the one that's
being immature in this whole thing. Yeah, I agree that
if there's one person here that I feel is is
more likely to get the boot, it's going to be
a Bennett. But I also like don't even know what
it's like about. Like Betta keeps saying that he's perplexed

(01:00:54):
by like what the tensions about? I don't I think
that's a lie. I think he understands that, like there's
a lot of belittling but between the two of them.
But I also feel like, um, like why did this start?
Like was the start of it? Also, weird freaking thing
that happened? You remember last episode when we left off

(01:01:16):
with the whole Noah Like, did guys really say that
he that Chasha gave him the rose to stir or
was he just making that up out of thin air?
That was never really addressed again. Never It's weird, isn't
that bizarre? It just went away, Like the episode said,
you need to apologize to Tasia and these guys, and
then we're done with it. It's just weird. So this

(01:01:39):
day has the Noah Benett drama. Bennett's doing his thing
by sitting next c Tasia and uh, you know, making
comments back and forth to Noah during this whole process. Uh,
Noah kind of goes back with him and says, hey,
you know, after Bennett created like a couple of houses
that him and Tasi you're gonna live in the chateaus
and the beach house. Were laughing at that. Don't like it?

(01:02:01):
You don't like that. I don't like it. I mean,
I thought it was funny, but I also find it
getting old. I don't know. But but let's concentrate on
the good parts of this this group date. There was
a lot of depth here. Brandon was amazing with his
his his photo, like the way that this is a
self portrait of me and if I turned the frame around,

(01:02:21):
it's me with my love and it was so sweet.
And then we also have Ivan with the puzzle and
like how he wants to add that last piece and
how he got emotional about his dad maybe not seeing
the man that he that he created one day. Oh
that was heart wrenching. And he just continues to be
the sweetest. Riley talking about he got that phone call

(01:02:44):
from his mom after not hearing from her for years,
and then he asked, Um, you know, she said what
keeps what keeps you wanting to have quality time with
with your future daughter? And then he said, well, it
comes from never having it in my childhood. I mean,
there's a lot a lot of goodness here and isn't

(01:03:05):
that what art does? Like not, you know, like art
allows us to express what's on our hearts, and like
there's obviously there's a lot of depth to these guys
and they're expressing that through UM this date, which I
really enjoyed watching UM. But there was a part Ashley,
and I want to hear it was this part and
I can't wait to talk to you about it. So Ashley,
during this whole thing, it's all going well, and then

(01:03:26):
there's a moment that I don't know honestly, like my
first reaction, quite honestly, is to be super like negative
on it. But I don't know how I feel about
it because it feels like it never became a thing,
and so I need to hear from you. I need
your wisdom, but I wanted to hear from you. Well.
Quite honestly, I was very much like confused by it,

(01:03:47):
like I felt, I thought it was super awkward. Um. Now, yeah,
and now I don't know what Batchel Nation thinks. In fact, listeners,
what do you think was this moment awkward? Was it endearing?
Was it sweet? I mean, I know Ben is trying
to show up. So here's what we're talking about. Being
goes back behind the scenes here says he forgot something.
He comes out button naked, and he stands in front

(01:04:07):
of his buddy's and Tastia and the people butt naked. Um. Now,
I don't know what was trying to be proven here.
I know he's trying to show up for her, but
this was and like, I'm not against Ben, like I
think he's trying his best during this whole thing to
connect withation. I think he really likes her, but this

(01:04:29):
just felt so weird to me, and it never got
talked about it was so weird to me, and it
went over seemingly so well, and it left me feeling
even more weird because it went over so well. Maybe
at first she was startled, but then you could see
in her eyes that she really liked the gesture. Um,

(01:04:50):
which made me feel like I should be liking the gesture.
Part of me understands completely that, like, when you're naked,
you are so vulnerable. You're at like you're very most vulnerable.
Like it can be emotional, it can be physical, but
like I get the meaning behind it, but also at

(01:05:11):
the same time, there's so many other ways this early
on in a relationship to be vulnerable, and the other
guys demonstrated it so well that it was just bizarre
that he was like, Okay, this is what I'm going
to go for. Was it was a little bit part
of it him being showy and almost being like, but

(01:05:32):
I'm delivering this is what I have to offer exactly. Um.
And then she got so emotional after that that I
just went with it. I don't know, I still am
kind of confused about how I feel about it. Okay,
I don't think it's appropriate. That's that's what I'll say.
I don't think it was appropriate. I don't think it
was asked for. I think it was in weird taste,

(01:05:55):
And in weird taste is a perfect way of saying it.
And it was in front of all of his budd
ease Like, this wasn't like this wasn't him showing up
for Tasa. This was a moment in front of a
bunch of people, and yeah, like if it's something inside
of me and I need more, I need so this
is where in life. So here's a good example in life.
I would get my friends together and I would say, Hey,

(01:06:18):
I don't know how to process this scenario. I need
you to help me process it. Can we talk about
how you feel about it? If it was right, if
it was wrong? Um, And that's what I need now,
Like so we need you listeners, right as how do
you think? How do you feel about it? Are we
off here? Um? Or was this like the right thing
to do? Is it's the wrong thing to do? It
just felt it made me feel all sorts of weird.

(01:06:41):
There was so many things he could have done that
wasn't this that would have been just as strong enough
as a statement. And to me, in a way, it
was almost like him giving up on being more creative
and just being like, screw it, I'm gonna go with
what I've got. Yeah, it's it's I don't know, we
need to hear from you. Yeah, actually I'm with you.
Um but hey, uh, we've been wrong before. We could

(01:07:03):
be wrong again. This could be the sweetest gesture of
all time and we just don't know it yet. Um,
but I'm not feeling it. And uh, I felt like
at that moment, it just it just doesn't sit easy
well speaking of Easy at yeah, well, hey, maybe maybe
she does well speaking of Easy. Uh. We fast forward
now to the one on one day. Uh with Easy, Uh,

(01:07:25):
it seems to be going great, and it seems to
be going well, and um, I don't feel as a fan,
like I don't feel a connection the whole time. Like
I feel like they get along and they're like laughing together,
but there's no connection. Even at dinner, it felt, um
it felt forced. Well yeah I did, I mean because
he it felt like he was repeating himself a lot,

(01:07:47):
like out of nerves, like that was a cute day,
that was a cute day, and he kept saying that
and like that's a space filler. He's not comfortable yet, Well, Ashley,
did you expect the result to be easy going home? Okay,
So I think this um haunted House part. I just
gonna say the hounted house part was like the probably
the weakest point that we've seen, the weakest scene that

(01:08:10):
we've seen over the past couple of weeks, because everything
has been super captivating. I just felt like this kind
of dragged out a little bit. But maybe it's because
I wasn't feeling like that strong of a connection. It
was more of a friendship that was very giggly. It
was fun. Um, it didn't lead to it didn't the
dates objective didn't lend itself to like huge vulnerability though,

(01:08:30):
you know, it's like going to a haunted house. Like
it's cute when you want to touch somebody and like
grab their arm, but it's not gonna like reveal your soul.
And then when dinner time did roll around, I agree
with you. There was like some fluff convo and I
was like, why in the war but until the fluff combo,
until he said I'm falling in love with you, and
I was like, why in the world is this guy
doing this right now? This is way too early. There's

(01:08:53):
been no scenes between the two of them, um in
which like, this seems like it's the natural progression of things.
So I like understand her not wanting to lead him
on and eliminating him there, but I was shock, Actually,
I was very shocked that she went through and eliminated him.
It seems like to me, this seems like the kind

(01:09:14):
of date where it's like you give him a rose
on the date and then like he gets eliminated a
week or two down the road. Yeah, you're telling me
you weren't shocked by the fact that she was just like,
and that's why I'm not going to get missed both.
I missed both. I was shocked at the injury result.
I guess I wasn't surprised that he's going home, is
my point. It's like at that point, yeah, shocking. Anytime

(01:09:36):
anybody on a one on one doesn't get a rose
at the end, it's always a pretty pannicle moment, because
you know, you get to choose, you go on one
on ones with their their treasured items. You want to
go on one on one with people that you have
a feature with or that you want to get to
know more, and so it's always shocking but um, I
wasn't surprised that he's not the one for Tasha and uh,

(01:09:58):
and it was the first bi big, like out of
nowhere cut that we've seen her make, which is, Uh,
once you do one, it's hard to stop and she'll
probably start, you know, chopping people away as she goes.
But we move on from easy then until maybe one
of the most captivating parts of the episode, something that's
dragged on for a long time. Jojo comes in very

(01:10:22):
serious uh and says that she needs to get to
the bottom of something and this something is something we've
all watched and understood. And now again here's a little
hint at the show. When you're the lead, you don't
know the stuff's happening, but behind the scenes, like Tasha
knows that there's drama, she knows something's up, but she
keeps saying like I'm gonna get to the bottom of
because she hasn't seen it yet, she doesn't fully understand. Well.

(01:10:43):
Tassha calls both been It and Noah in for a
two on one date. Uh, Ashley, you have been on
two on one dates. Talk us through this moment um,
and then I'll share a couple opinions. I have. Yeah,
it's a it's a weird need to on one that's
pre cocktail party. Um, there will be a rose. I

(01:11:07):
feel like Tasia may not give either of these guys
a rose, which happened in my situation. Again, like the
tension between them seems like it's all about like nothing.
They're really just to people who don't get along, and
Bennett keeps insinuating that Noah is too young and that

(01:11:27):
he's childish. He gives him a book on emotional intelligence,
which which gives us all flashbacks to Taylor Nolan talking
about emotional intelligence, but it says that he didn't have
it back when he was Noah's age. He also gives
him a red bandana, which is a sign of friendship,
he says, and he doesn't want there to be any
bad blood moving forward. But then when he gives him

(01:11:50):
the emotional intelligence book and the mustache socks, which is
you know, uh, a little bit of a reference to
the fact that he should only be anybody nobody should
be wearing a mustache anywhere but their feet. Bennett says
all these are little nudges at how much he doesn't

(01:12:14):
think Noah should be around anymore. So they're not real gifts. However,
Bennett keeps saying that they are. Sincere. It looks like
this gift is going to be the demise of Bennett
because he's Tassia comes and sits down with Noah and Bennett,
and Bennett's like, yeah, everything's tronglish. I just don't want

(01:12:35):
anything to be childish. And I think that she's a
little bit confused in the moment, but then we get
it to be continued when she says what's in that box?
She's going to open that box and see how demeaning
everything is towards Noah, and she's gonna eliminate Bennett. This
is just what I think. What about you, Well, you
just said it right. You just said a word that

(01:12:55):
I think a lot of people are wondering. Was this
box the meaning? Because Noah's claiming been a this is
another sign of you just being the meaning to me,
of bullying me, of pushing me around, of making stuff
out of nothing, like we could have easily came on
this date. Um Instead, here's the part like if Bennet
would have sat down and said, no, actually, I don't
like you, and I'm gonna give you this gift to
show you that I'd be more okay with it, but

(01:13:16):
instead Bennett trying to wrap it up and manipulate the
situation by saying, hey, I'm always a peacemaker. I'm always
a guy that likes to make peace. So he's lying
because this is not him making peace, and then he
presents the gift as something that's gonna be uplifting and
help Noah, and he continues to manipulate no One say
I'm just doing this out of love, man like, I'm
just trying to help you out, and Noah sitting there

(01:13:39):
going no, Ben it, this is another sign of you
being the meaning to me of pushing me around. It's
not okay. And I wasn't okay with that either, because
what I mean, we just witnessed been Itt manipulating a
situation and making somebody feel belittled, which is never okay
on the show. Sort of. I don't even know if
I agree with the word manipulating, because I feel like

(01:13:59):
manipulating is when somebody's like buying into it, and Noah
is not buying into this this Bennett, Yeah, manipulation is
also I mean, yeah, sure, I mean, what is it? Like?
I don't know the right word than to use. But
like Bennett presents this as, Hey, this is something that
I'm just trying to cause peace. Man, I'm just and

(01:14:23):
then he twists it and it's only something that Noah
has to sit through and feel worse about himself. Like
can you imagine somebody opening this box up in front
of you and saying, this is what I think of you,
and I'm gonna I'm gonna act like it's out of
love and care, but really you're just gonna sit there
and have to take me criticizing you for minutes upon
minutes like it's not okay, okay. So we are like

(01:14:44):
I think some of us, me included, are watching this
being like, oh, but this is sort of funny because
it's coming from Bennett and he's using this word. Oh
now we've fallen into a foli or something like that,
and it's just like, well, first off, he used the
wrong word of folly fall folly. Folly has to if
you're gonna pluralize, it has to be follies. Like he
he did not use folly right, Folly was wrong. He

(01:15:07):
follies is the plural and he's talking about two of
them coming into a disagreement. So he was wrong. Smart
smart Ben, Okay, So, but could you imagine if it's
just like a regular person, like not a person who's
a walking caricature, but like a regular person and they
handed you this demining gift, that person would be villainized
so fast, that person would be a straight up villain.

(01:15:30):
In this case, Ben, it's almost halfway getting away with
it because we think that he seems like an actor
for hire. Well, let's see if he gets away with it.
Because obviously, as you said, Tasha is going to open
up this gift and we'll see what she says. I mean,
we will have to base our opinion on what Tasha does.
But I know how I stand right now, and it's
obvious how you stand. To Ashley, It's gonna be a

(01:15:50):
great episode next week. Obviously, we're leaving this episode on
a cliffhanger with a lot to a lot of unknowns,
a lot to discover. Another great episode of tatious season,
and another great episode of almost famous podcast things. All
the guests who came on, Ashley, You're the best. We'll
be back next week with that I've Been Been, I've
been Ashley Bad Guys Later all followed the Benn and
Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on I Heart Radio or

(01:16:13):
subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.