February 7, 2026 • 22 mins
Ben continues his hangout at the Big Game with Trista Sutter, Rachel Recchia and Joan Vassos and he’s asking the tough questions!
Joan clears up the rumors that she and Chock aren’t together anymore… and the real answer will shock you.
Trista shares her predictions for the future of The Bachelor in a post-Taylor Frankie Paul world.
And we get expert picks for the Big Game, with Rachel basing her choice on who has the hottest players.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're back.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It's been here on the Almost Famous podcast from San
Francisco for the Big Game, and I'm with Rachel Reccia,
Joan and Trista. Let's jump back into what's been going
viral this week now. I want to step to you, Rachel.
You just took over the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
That's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You have a great co host.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
I know, I'm so lucky. She makes things so easy.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Now, you've been on the Almost Famous show, You've co
hosted it, You've been here with us many of times.
You're always a great co host. But what are you
hoping to bring the Bachelor Happy Hour?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's so funny.
Speaker 5 (00:43):
I was just talking to Joan and trist I'm like,
this is so much harder than I thought. I think
when I've always co hosted with you, Ben, we always
just have a plan.
Speaker 6 (00:51):
We go in, we know what we're.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Going to talk about.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
But I think the thing that's going to be a
little different with me and Charity is we're definitely not
afraid to hold back aurinion, even if it's not the
popular one. I think I'm blocked by several of Jen's
men from her.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
Season just for going on Almost Famous mens.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
I'm not going back, so I'm gonna try to be
as you know, polite as I can.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
But I think me and Charity, we're.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Just gonna say it how it is so good bring
a little bit of controversy.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
If it creates the headlines, how are you going to
handle that? Though? I mean it does.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I do have to damage control a little bit when
I see him in.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Person, for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Sure, yeah, sure, I mean it is a thing, yes,
But I think the thing that the two of you
can bring is the honesty, right Yeah. Almost Famous is
set up to have the interviews to try to get
to the heart of the matter, but we really don't
have that freedom. Neither Ashley or myself feel like super
comfortable just blatantly being like this is ridiculous because usually
(01:52):
my takes are wrong, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
But it will come at you fast.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
But if people are listening and want to keep listening,
you're gonna do interviews, You're gonna break down episodes. Obviously, Taylor,
Frankie Paul seasons coming up, You Were You and Trista
both were a part of that kind of reunion that
now is getting talked.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
About and shared.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh you were there too, all there, Oh amazing. I
would love for the three of you to like talk
about that. Obviously we saw it posted on social media.
I think I knew it was happening because maybe just
like I had heard rumors. But it looks awesome. It
looked incredible. So what did you guys take away from
that kind of gathering?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
It was bad, it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
I mean like there's kind of two parts of it.
Like it was the first time that we had all
gotten together, and then we also all got to meet
Taylor Frankie Paul, So like the reason we were there
was to talk to her and to give her advice.
But we had some time. We had a lot of
time with just us and not with her. She was busy,
so we got to spent a lot of time together,
and I think we really got to know each other
(02:55):
and kind of solidified. We have this group chat that's
really special, but like you're having it with people that
you don't really know, Like we've watched each other seasons,
but we don't really know them. And we got to
really spend an entire day with each other in the
mansion like kind of where like a lot of us,
like our whole bachelor journeys began and really like solidifi
(03:16):
our friendships. So now in fact that we even had
a little group part of our group chat like give
each other our addresses because we got Christmas cards from
each other. I loved it. So it was like it
kind of kind of took all of our relationships to
a different level. But then we also got to hang.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Out with you now, Trista, I know that, like this
had to make your heart so full because knowing.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You through the years, you have.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Not only been the first bachelorette, but then you kind
of wrap your arms around any bachelorette coming through the
whole group.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It feels like you've really.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Kind of owned Hey, I want to like make this
feel like a family. And for years this show helped
with this. The show would bring us together different events,
we'd have reunions, and it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Kind of stopped.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Of the last six years, I would say, we haven't
had any though, So this was the first time in
a while.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
So we did one ten years ago, ten.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Years ago threats Yeah, okay.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Ten years before and it was Hannah Brown was filming
her season, so was everybody up to that point, or
almost everybody.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
But I love that you said that, because I do.
I try to be very.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
Intentional about just loving on everyone. I've said this like
a million times.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
We literally just talked.
Speaker 7 (04:32):
I was just on her podcast and I said almost
exactly like that, that my heart is just so full
and I feel very maternal towards all of you, like
anybody who has been on the show after me, which
was which is everybody, all of us, I just feel
I just feel very maternal. So being able to be
(04:54):
in a room with I think there were sixteen of
us or yeah, writing seventeen seven Taylor, Okay plus Taylor,
So having all of us together, it just it truly
is a sisterhood and.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
It just makes my heart so happy.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
And meeting Taylor, I I don't watch. I haven't watched
Mormon Wives, not to say that I won't before her
season because I have to, but I feel like there's
so much talk about who she is on Mormon Wives,
and you know how it's gonna be messy and chaotic
and all these things, and I feel like everyone is
(05:34):
probably going into it with this like preconceived notion of
who she's going to be and how she's going to
act and like all of these things.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
But you, guys, she is. She was so genuine.
Speaker 7 (05:44):
She was so grateful to be there with all of us, Like,
didn't you feel the gratitude?
Speaker 4 (05:48):
And she was to say yes, she It was like
genuine she was.
Speaker 7 (05:53):
She wasn't looking around like wondering who the next person
was that she was going to talk to, or like
focusing on her producers. She was like when she was
in a conversation, she was invested and present and I
AM very serious, yes, and truly like she wasn't like
she was taking it seriously.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
She was justice.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
So I.
Speaker 7 (06:18):
Loved meeting her. I love welcoming anyone new.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, I mean, that's funny you say that, because I
don't know if you knew this. God works in the
most incredible ways. I'm announced as the Bachelor. You guys
probably don't know this story, and I don't know if
anybody actually does. I'm announced as the Bachelor, and my
aunt is a huge fan of the show, and they're
out visiting Denver, Colorado, and they take me to breakfast
(06:43):
like a week before my filming starts.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
And guess who's at the same breakfast spot as me.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That day, Trista and Ryan and I get to meet
Trista for the first time. Another Hoosier go I U
whose arts at the breakfast spot a week before my
filming starts, and you can tell then I remember exactly
where I was at.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
It was right outside the door.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I can literally pull up a picture that.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
She was going to care for me well, which is
one of those reminders of hey, I can do this
because you kind of feel like you don't. It's like
a mystery world. It was a big deal to me.
I want to go back to Taylor for a second.
I want to hear after meeting her. I've always had
this idea that she's going to be very similar to
Caitlin Bristow, who was the Bachelorette when I was on
the show, who I love dearly, and I love her
(07:28):
because she was chaotic in the sense of she did
her own thing. She did it how she wanted to
do it. But she was honest, she was vulnerable, she
was open, and she was there for the right reasons.
She really wanted to meet her partner and her lifelong
like partner through the show, but she just did it
in a way that nobody else had done.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It before, right, and I have to respect that.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And I've always thought Taylor was going to do something similar,
which I'm excited for. But two, you three have met her.
I haven't met her. So let's start with you, Rachel.
How do you think the season or will go? How
do you think she'll be as the bachelorette?
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I think, I mean, it's such a good point because
we have all spoken in talking about how she would
be the most similar to Caitlin, just in an amazing way.
But I think the advantage that Taylor has that no
one else has is that she's going in and she
doesn't want to be the perfect bachelorette at all. And
I think everyone goes in and they say, oh, I
don't care about that, but you really you do. You
(08:24):
want the viewers to be happy, you want the producers
to be happy. You want to give a good season.
They chose you. Why would you not want that? And
I think she's going in knowing that she can do
whatever she wants. People are going to love her, people
are gonna hate her, and she's gonna get what she
wants to get out of it. And I think that's
going to give a season where she gets what she
wants and it's entertaining. Yeah, so I'm very excited to
watch her.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
Yes, Joan, I feel the same way. You're so right,
Like she doesn't have to be somebody else, because everybody's
already seen who she is. She's been on Secret Lives,
and she's been unapologetically herself. She was part of the
Swinging scandal, She's had rougher relationships with other women, she's
had terrible relationships with the men. So I feel like
(09:06):
she's going in with everybody knowing who she is. I
was actually very surprised when I met her. I love
her on the show. I actually really really like her
on Secret Lives. I think she's so incredibly honest, and
I think like people's go to is usually to lie
if it makes them look bad, and she does not
do that. If it makes her look bad. She puts
it right out there and moves on.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Amazing for us the viewer, because we'll get to know
where which we haven't gotten to know, you know, like
it's been a bit since we've kind of gotten to
feel like, I get this girl.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
And when they were safe, you know, they always cast
somebody from her previous season because they want you to
know them, and we kind of be invested. They had
this person already because we all know her from Secret Lives.
But the person that I met at the mansion surprised
me a little bit. She was way more thoughtful, and
she I remember asking a certain question and I can't
repeat it, but it sounded like she knew what her
(09:54):
shortcomings were and she was asking. Three of us were
together actually when she was talking to us, and just
like how we thought she could overcome this, you know,
personality trait that she had, and like she was really
very thoughtful. I really feel like she's there for the
right reason, honestly, Joe, and I also think that she
didn't need to go on the show. She already had
Secret Lives. She would have just gone right on filming
(10:15):
that she did not need the show. I feel like
she's there because she wants to find somebody.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, Trista, I do too.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
I think that she's going to be incredibly entertaining. I
mean incredibly entertaining. I think she is dropped at gorgeous,
so just that I mean, just with that out there,
and she comes with this huge following that I think
we've talked about on almost famous is. You know, the
ratings have been lower these days, and I feel like
(10:44):
with her following, I have friends who are like, I
haven't watched it in years, but I am watching this
season because of who.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Is the Bachelorette.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
So I'm really excited for the franchise to kind of
see this.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Yes, Like yeah, it's like.
Speaker 7 (11:02):
A new spark that we can be excited about it
again for different reasons, you know, like back in my day,
it was all innocent. We had no idea what we
were doing and what people were going to get. Now
everyone just I think we're just desensitized to everything about
the show, Like we've seen it a million times, and
(11:22):
she is just she'll She's just going to throw everything
out the window and.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Do it her way.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So yeah, I don't think anybody has a doubt that
this will be a very successful season. The question that's
looming is where will the show go from here? Yeah,
and that's a big question because we all want this
franchise to continue. It's one that we were part of,
It's one that we found love through you and I.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
I've failed enough in this franchise. I can give advice
for days.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
And you're great at it speaking of love though, Joan,
we are moving to you. I saw a post that
Chock made this week sharing that you two are still together.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Oh yeah, okay, there was talk that you weren't.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Now there was talk, Yeah, there was talk through the
internet that Joan and Chalk were no longer together.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
People were wondering and questioning.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
You know, usually I would actually say this in my
many years of being a part of the franchise, when
people start asking that question, most of the time points
to it being true. But Chock came out and said, no,
the floor is yours. Are the two of you together?
If so, why are people questioning it?
Speaker 6 (12:41):
So we are absolutely together. I think they are question
it because I do a really so he's not like
a big social media person. So there's going to be
a social media moment of the two of us in it.
I have to like initiate it and like we're just
like a regular old couple now, Like I don't post
all the time. I don't feel like every time we
go out we should take a pic sure of us together.
I don't feel like we're just living We're just living
(13:03):
like a normal life as a normal couple, and we
are just not great about like posting, so it's like
kind of on me. I think it's my fault because
I'm the one that would have to do it, So.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
It's not and you don't know anything.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
And they love to just come up with your broken
up because I'm just not good about social media.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I mean, the two of you then are together, and
you're strongly together. Give us an update on your relationship, Like,
what have you learned about each other now? I mean,
it's been how how long since you been?
Speaker 6 (13:35):
So it's been so we got engaged, it was a
year in August, and so you know, my finale wasn't
until November, so we were in public until November. So
it's been you know, it's been over a year, year
and a half of like eighteen months. We are we
are great. Like we actually spent a whole month together
in New York City at the month of December, and
so that was the first time we actually kind of
(13:55):
lived together. So we don't live together. He still lives
in Kansas. I still live in Maryland. But we see
each other all the time. In fact, I'm seeing a Monday,
we're going to put to Connor for a couple of days.
Then we're flying to La to do a thing that
we're doing there, so we'll be together for a week.
Then we had a week in December. Like we see
each other, We truly do. We just are not great
about Joan.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
You're to defend it. You guys are living the dream.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
You're going on vacations, you're spending time in New York,
you're spending time with your own families.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
And I just don't want you to feel like you
have to defend these do because if I don't, then
they say we're broken up. Or I meant one point
I died and one point he bought me two houses.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And it's on Facebook.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
Yeah, facebo, you hear that I have Alzheimer's my son
my son is actually pregnant. Yeah, and I'm pregnant and
we broke up and it's all on Facebook.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
It is I tragically died in a car accident.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Oh yeah, it's it's brutal out there. We've talked to him.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
A long listener this podcast said, don't trust any of
that anymore. But I do think it's great. I mean,
moments like this remind the listeners and the fans of
the show that you two are happy. I always have
thought in my own life. I don't like social media.
The less couples really share about each other, the stronger
I actually think they are.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
You're living it, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
And if I was to show my life with my wife,
it's like a lot of walks with the dog.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Like, I don't know how cool that is. I don't
know what to do with that.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Yeah, I mean, I totally agree that's how our life is.
I mean we have great times like we like when
we were in New York, we did really fun stuff,
but mostly we walked to like a deli to get
a bagel. I mean, it's just not that it's yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You don't have to defend it. I'm with Rachel on this.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I mean I think that world, you know, but it
is because we come from the world that we do.
It is always good to get the update on how
things are progressing.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
And I do feel like I owe it a little bit.
I mean, I'm very flattered that people care and that
they are invested in our relationship, just like they're rested
in yours and yours and yours. They you know, they
bought into the whole concept of we dated in public
and now we're a public I do owe them, like
every once in a while, a reassurance that we're still
(16:04):
together or that we're not.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Sure, that's a good point before we go back to
the game, because I know you all are kind of
on the edge of your seat, so ready to talk
about this game to that's happening Sunday. It's a big
game again. We're at Radio Row at the super Bowl.
There's stars all around us. People I recognize people that
still are playing, people that have retired coaches. Trista, my
question for you is we just kind of got off
(16:28):
this Taylor Frankie Paul conversation and what you think shall
be as the Bachelorette and what this season will do.
I also know that you do deeply care for the
people involved in the show, which makes me think you
also very much care about the show. Where do you
hope the show goes after the Taylor Frankie Paul, you know, season?
What do you hope changes or stays the same? What's
(16:49):
your hopes for this franchise?
Speaker 7 (16:50):
I guess I just feel I wanted to renew people's
love of the show. You know, I love love and
that's why I I mean, obviously I have history with
the show, but I love love, and that's why I
signed up to do the show, you know, for something
fun and exciting that is an escape from normal life
that you can just tune, you know, put in your
(17:12):
living room and and see somebody else fall in love.
And I think at the core of it, that's what
I hope that people get back to. But I really
feel like she's gonna infuse you know, followers into Bachelor
Nation from her show. At least that's what I hope,
because it's been going for so long that I can't
(17:35):
see it ever ending. And and mind you, I think
my daughter kind of wants to be part of it
somehow someway.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
I think.
Speaker 7 (17:47):
She would be like I mean, truly, she would love
to be on the show.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
I mean, and she's part of it so much like
she came on my season.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yes, yeah, yeah, a little wish. That's a headline Blake's
leave from Bachelorette.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
I think we should make it the second Bachelor baby
becomes the Bachelor, and then what if she had about
your baby, and.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Then I would be a Bachelor grandmother.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
No, I don't all right to close up here, team.
I think the spread at least the last time I
checked was four and a half h for the.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Game tomorrow night?
Speaker 4 (18:26):
What's spread?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I think the over was. I got forty seven and
a half. Maybe maybe a little lower than that.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Let's just not a high scoring game.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Let's just check. No, I don't think they expected. Super
Bowls typically are not a high scoring uh. I want
to hear your picks.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I want to see if you're taking the money line,
if you're taking the spread tomorrow night, and who you're
picking for the game.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
The only reason I'm picking.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
For five and a half is the is the over.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
The only reason I'm picking who I'm picking is because
Ryan played for them for a split second, and also
because Molly Mesnik would kill me if I did so.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Seattle Seahawks money line taking them the win?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Yeah, taking them the win?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Beat this bread? Huh Yeah, Okay, I'm just Seahawks. But
I don't think they're going to beat this bread.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Well, no, there they would if they win plus four
and a half. So or no, the Seahawks are favored
by four and a half. Actually, yes, so you don't
think they'll cover the four and a half, but you do?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
I will pick whichever team has the hottest players, and
I will go home tonight.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
No, I need you to do that here as we're
closing up here. Just go ahead and scroll through the
rosters and I need to get that by the You
just hilarious.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You just got excited.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
We're going to find her husband here, by the way.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, I have two amazing wing women women.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
What's what's the strategy as Rachel finds out who the
hottest players and the Seahawks and Patriots are. What is
the strategy to find Rachel a husband tonight?
Speaker 6 (19:57):
So we talked about her type. Yeah, I'm not positive
we're going to find him here because your type is not.
Speaker 7 (20:04):
Yes, pretty boys, boys, we can find a pretty boy.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
The most football players are not like pretty man.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Your Cooper Dejene is here and he's kind of a
pretty boy.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was walking around here
a little bit ago.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Okay, you are going to be here. Who any hoosiers?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Uh, Fernando is here somewhere.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Oh my god, we have to find him.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I know I've heard rumors that Fernando Mendoza is the body.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Tell me where Fernando is?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I have I don't know if I could talk to him.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Well, I'm going to talk to him for you and
then we're getting a picture.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, I think I get very clammy.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
No, I think I just called you Bob almost.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
I don't picture you as getting nervous running.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
We are finding Fernando. I'm on a mission.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
You're on a mission, all right, Rachel, what do we got?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
I feel like the Patriots. I feel like they're a
little hotter.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Okay, so you're picking the Patriots the win? Yeah, who's
standing out to you? On the Patriots?
Speaker 6 (21:01):
He's cute. I can't Cardi B. He's Cardi B. He's
a baby daddy right now.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I don't even know that. I'm so bad.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Rachel's having way too much fun with this game. Our
final vote is the Patriots, though Patriots, Patriots for the win.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Mike Vrabel their coach, absolute stud Okay, okay, he's he's
the man.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
He you know, just got fired two seasons ago and
now leads his team to the super Bowl. It is
a great environment here in San Francisco. Radio Row is
exciting and energetic. We have so much to do today.
You got to walk around, you got to find a husband,
We got to do some interviews. Have a blast this week.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
We gotta go hard.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
We need to start.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Singing the song and maybe he'll come to us.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
The Bachelor to be invited to this event, to meet
my husband.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Everyone always comes back.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
To the Bachelor and to get the job as the
new host of Bachelor Happy Er. If you want to
listen to Rachel, make sure you go check that out,
but don't do it. In replacement of the Almost Famous
podcast until next time.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
I've been Ben, We'll see you later.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're back.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It's been here on the Almost Famous podcast from San
Francisco for the Big Game, and I'm with Rachel Reccia,
Joan and Trista. Let's jump back into what's been going
viral this week now. I want to step to you, Rachel.
You just took over the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
That's a big deal.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You have a great co host.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
I know, I'm so lucky. She makes things so easy.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Now, you've been on the Almost Famous show, You've co
hosted it, You've been here with us many of times.
You're always a great co host. But what are you
hoping to bring the Bachelor Happy Hour?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's so funny.
Speaker 5 (00:43):
I was just talking to Joan and trist I'm like,
this is so much harder than I thought. I think
when I've always co hosted with you, Ben, we always
just have a plan.
Speaker 6 (00:51):
We go in, we know what we're.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Going to talk about.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
But I think the thing that's going to be a
little different with me and Charity is we're definitely not
afraid to hold back aurinion, even if it's not the
popular one. I think I'm blocked by several of Jen's
men from her.
Speaker 6 (01:07):
Season just for going on Almost Famous mens.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
I'm not going back, so I'm gonna try to be
as you know, polite as I can.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
But I think me and Charity, we're.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
Just gonna say it how it is so good bring
a little bit of controversy.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
If it creates the headlines, how are you going to
handle that? Though? I mean it does.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I do have to damage control a little bit when
I see him in.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Person, for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Sure, yeah, sure, I mean it is a thing, yes,
But I think the thing that the two of you
can bring is the honesty, right Yeah. Almost Famous is
set up to have the interviews to try to get
to the heart of the matter, but we really don't
have that freedom. Neither Ashley or myself feel like super
comfortable just blatantly being like this is ridiculous because usually
(01:52):
my takes are wrong, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
But it will come at you fast.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
But if people are listening and want to keep listening,
you're gonna do interviews, You're gonna break down episodes. Obviously, Taylor,
Frankie Paul seasons coming up, You Were You and Trista
both were a part of that kind of reunion that
now is getting talked.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
About and shared.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh you were there too, all there, Oh amazing. I
would love for the three of you to like talk
about that. Obviously we saw it posted on social media.
I think I knew it was happening because maybe just
like I had heard rumors. But it looks awesome. It
looked incredible. So what did you guys take away from
that kind of gathering?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
It was bad, it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
I mean like there's kind of two parts of it.
Like it was the first time that we had all
gotten together, and then we also all got to meet
Taylor Frankie Paul, So like the reason we were there
was to talk to her and to give her advice.
But we had some time. We had a lot of
time with just us and not with her. She was busy,
so we got to spent a lot of time together,
and I think we really got to know each other
(02:55):
and kind of solidified. We have this group chat that's
really special, but like you're having it with people that
you don't really know, Like we've watched each other seasons,
but we don't really know them. And we got to
really spend an entire day with each other in the
mansion like kind of where like a lot of us,
like our whole bachelor journeys began and really like solidifi
(03:16):
our friendships. So now in fact that we even had
a little group part of our group chat like give
each other our addresses because we got Christmas cards from
each other. I loved it. So it was like it
kind of kind of took all of our relationships to
a different level. But then we also got to hang.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Out with you now, Trista, I know that, like this
had to make your heart so full because knowing.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You through the years, you have.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Not only been the first bachelorette, but then you kind
of wrap your arms around any bachelorette coming through the
whole group.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It feels like you've really.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Kind of owned Hey, I want to like make this
feel like a family. And for years this show helped
with this. The show would bring us together different events,
we'd have reunions, and it.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Kind of stopped.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Of the last six years, I would say, we haven't
had any though, So this was the first time in
a while.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
So we did one ten years ago, ten.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Years ago threats Yeah, okay.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Ten years before and it was Hannah Brown was filming
her season, so was everybody up to that point, or
almost everybody.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
But I love that you said that, because I do.
I try to be very.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
Intentional about just loving on everyone. I've said this like
a million times.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
We literally just talked.
Speaker 7 (04:32):
I was just on her podcast and I said almost
exactly like that, that my heart is just so full
and I feel very maternal towards all of you, like
anybody who has been on the show after me, which
was which is everybody, all of us, I just feel
I just feel very maternal. So being able to be
(04:54):
in a room with I think there were sixteen of
us or yeah, writing seventeen seven Taylor, Okay plus Taylor,
So having all of us together, it just it truly
is a sisterhood and.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
It just makes my heart so happy.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
And meeting Taylor, I I don't watch. I haven't watched
Mormon Wives, not to say that I won't before her
season because I have to, but I feel like there's
so much talk about who she is on Mormon Wives,
and you know how it's gonna be messy and chaotic
and all these things, and I feel like everyone is
(05:34):
probably going into it with this like preconceived notion of
who she's going to be and how she's going to
act and like all of these things.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
But you, guys, she is. She was so genuine.
Speaker 7 (05:44):
She was so grateful to be there with all of us, Like,
didn't you feel the gratitude?
Speaker 4 (05:48):
And she was to say yes, she It was like
genuine she was.
Speaker 7 (05:53):
She wasn't looking around like wondering who the next person
was that she was going to talk to, or like
focusing on her producers. She was like when she was
in a conversation, she was invested and present and I
AM very serious, yes, and truly like she wasn't like
she was taking it seriously.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
She was justice.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
So I.
Speaker 7 (06:18):
Loved meeting her. I love welcoming anyone new.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, I mean, that's funny you say that, because I
don't know if you knew this. God works in the
most incredible ways. I'm announced as the Bachelor. You guys
probably don't know this story, and I don't know if
anybody actually does. I'm announced as the Bachelor, and my
aunt is a huge fan of the show, and they're
out visiting Denver, Colorado, and they take me to breakfast
(06:43):
like a week before my filming starts.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
And guess who's at the same breakfast spot as me.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That day, Trista and Ryan and I get to meet
Trista for the first time. Another Hoosier go I U
whose arts at the breakfast spot a week before my
filming starts, and you can tell then I remember exactly
where I was at.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
It was right outside the door.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I can literally pull up a picture that.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
She was going to care for me well, which is
one of those reminders of hey, I can do this
because you kind of feel like you don't. It's like
a mystery world. It was a big deal to me.
I want to go back to Taylor for a second.
I want to hear after meeting her. I've always had
this idea that she's going to be very similar to
Caitlin Bristow, who was the Bachelorette when I was on
the show, who I love dearly, and I love her
(07:28):
because she was chaotic in the sense of she did
her own thing. She did it how she wanted to
do it. But she was honest, she was vulnerable, she
was open, and she was there for the right reasons.
She really wanted to meet her partner and her lifelong
like partner through the show, but she just did it
in a way that nobody else had done.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It before, right, and I have to respect that.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And I've always thought Taylor was going to do something similar,
which I'm excited for. But two, you three have met her.
I haven't met her. So let's start with you, Rachel.
How do you think the season or will go? How
do you think she'll be as the bachelorette?
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I think, I mean, it's such a good point because
we have all spoken in talking about how she would
be the most similar to Caitlin, just in an amazing way.
But I think the advantage that Taylor has that no
one else has is that she's going in and she
doesn't want to be the perfect bachelorette at all. And
I think everyone goes in and they say, oh, I
don't care about that, but you really you do. You
(08:24):
want the viewers to be happy, you want the producers
to be happy. You want to give a good season.
They chose you. Why would you not want that? And
I think she's going in knowing that she can do
whatever she wants. People are going to love her, people
are gonna hate her, and she's gonna get what she
wants to get out of it. And I think that's
going to give a season where she gets what she
wants and it's entertaining. Yeah, so I'm very excited to
watch her.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
Yes, Joan, I feel the same way. You're so right,
Like she doesn't have to be somebody else, because everybody's
already seen who she is. She's been on Secret Lives,
and she's been unapologetically herself. She was part of the
Swinging scandal, She's had rougher relationships with other women, she's
had terrible relationships with the men. So I feel like
(09:06):
she's going in with everybody knowing who she is. I
was actually very surprised when I met her. I love
her on the show. I actually really really like her
on Secret Lives. I think she's so incredibly honest, and
I think like people's go to is usually to lie
if it makes them look bad, and she does not
do that. If it makes her look bad. She puts
it right out there and moves on.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Amazing for us the viewer, because we'll get to know
where which we haven't gotten to know, you know, like
it's been a bit since we've kind of gotten to
feel like, I get this girl.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
And when they were safe, you know, they always cast
somebody from her previous season because they want you to
know them, and we kind of be invested. They had
this person already because we all know her from Secret Lives.
But the person that I met at the mansion surprised
me a little bit. She was way more thoughtful, and
she I remember asking a certain question and I can't
repeat it, but it sounded like she knew what her
(09:54):
shortcomings were and she was asking. Three of us were
together actually when she was talking to us, and just
like how we thought she could overcome this, you know,
personality trait that she had, and like she was really
very thoughtful. I really feel like she's there for the
right reason, honestly, Joe, and I also think that she
didn't need to go on the show. She already had
Secret Lives. She would have just gone right on filming
(10:15):
that she did not need the show. I feel like
she's there because she wants to find somebody.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, Trista, I do too.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
I think that she's going to be incredibly entertaining. I
mean incredibly entertaining. I think she is dropped at gorgeous,
so just that I mean, just with that out there,
and she comes with this huge following that I think
we've talked about on almost famous is. You know, the
ratings have been lower these days, and I feel like
(10:44):
with her following, I have friends who are like, I
haven't watched it in years, but I am watching this
season because of who.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Is the Bachelorette.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
So I'm really excited for the franchise to kind of
see this.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Yes, Like yeah, it's like.
Speaker 7 (11:02):
A new spark that we can be excited about it
again for different reasons, you know, like back in my day,
it was all innocent. We had no idea what we
were doing and what people were going to get. Now
everyone just I think we're just desensitized to everything about
the show, Like we've seen it a million times, and
(11:22):
she is just she'll She's just going to throw everything
out the window and.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Do it her way.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So yeah, I don't think anybody has a doubt that
this will be a very successful season. The question that's
looming is where will the show go from here? Yeah,
and that's a big question because we all want this
franchise to continue. It's one that we were part of,
It's one that we found love through you and I.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
I've failed enough in this franchise. I can give advice
for days.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
And you're great at it speaking of love though, Joan,
we are moving to you. I saw a post that
Chock made this week sharing that you two are still together.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Oh yeah, okay, there was talk that you weren't.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Now there was talk, Yeah, there was talk through the
internet that Joan and Chalk were no longer together.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
People were wondering and questioning.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
You know, usually I would actually say this in my
many years of being a part of the franchise, when
people start asking that question, most of the time points
to it being true. But Chock came out and said, no,
the floor is yours. Are the two of you together?
If so, why are people questioning it?
Speaker 6 (12:41):
So we are absolutely together. I think they are question
it because I do a really so he's not like
a big social media person. So there's going to be
a social media moment of the two of us in it.
I have to like initiate it and like we're just
like a regular old couple now, Like I don't post
all the time. I don't feel like every time we
go out we should take a pic sure of us together.
I don't feel like we're just living We're just living
(13:03):
like a normal life as a normal couple, and we
are just not great about like posting, so it's like
kind of on me. I think it's my fault because
I'm the one that would have to do it, So.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
It's not and you don't know anything.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
And they love to just come up with your broken
up because I'm just not good about social media.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I mean, the two of you then are together, and
you're strongly together. Give us an update on your relationship, Like,
what have you learned about each other now? I mean,
it's been how how long since you been?
Speaker 6 (13:35):
So it's been so we got engaged, it was a
year in August, and so you know, my finale wasn't
until November, so we were in public until November. So
it's been you know, it's been over a year, year
and a half of like eighteen months. We are we
are great. Like we actually spent a whole month together
in New York City at the month of December, and
so that was the first time we actually kind of
(13:55):
lived together. So we don't live together. He still lives
in Kansas. I still live in Maryland. But we see
each other all the time. In fact, I'm seeing a Monday,
we're going to put to Connor for a couple of days.
Then we're flying to La to do a thing that
we're doing there, so we'll be together for a week.
Then we had a week in December. Like we see
each other, We truly do. We just are not great
about Joan.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
You're to defend it. You guys are living the dream.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
You're going on vacations, you're spending time in New York,
you're spending time with your own families.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
And I just don't want you to feel like you
have to defend these do because if I don't, then
they say we're broken up. Or I meant one point
I died and one point he bought me two houses.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And it's on Facebook.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
Yeah, facebo, you hear that I have Alzheimer's my son
my son is actually pregnant. Yeah, and I'm pregnant and
we broke up and it's all on Facebook.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
It is I tragically died in a car accident.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Oh yeah, it's it's brutal out there. We've talked to him.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
A long listener this podcast said, don't trust any of
that anymore. But I do think it's great. I mean,
moments like this remind the listeners and the fans of
the show that you two are happy. I always have
thought in my own life. I don't like social media.
The less couples really share about each other, the stronger
I actually think they are.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
You're living it, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
And if I was to show my life with my wife,
it's like a lot of walks with the dog.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Like, I don't know how cool that is. I don't
know what to do with that.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Yeah, I mean, I totally agree that's how our life is.
I mean we have great times like we like when
we were in New York, we did really fun stuff,
but mostly we walked to like a deli to get
a bagel. I mean, it's just not that it's yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You don't have to defend it. I'm with Rachel on this.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I mean I think that world, you know, but it
is because we come from the world that we do.
It is always good to get the update on how
things are progressing.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
And I do feel like I owe it a little bit.
I mean, I'm very flattered that people care and that
they are invested in our relationship, just like they're rested
in yours and yours and yours. They you know, they
bought into the whole concept of we dated in public
and now we're a public I do owe them, like
every once in a while, a reassurance that we're still
(16:04):
together or that we're not.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Sure, that's a good point before we go back to
the game, because I know you all are kind of
on the edge of your seat, so ready to talk
about this game to that's happening Sunday. It's a big
game again. We're at Radio Row at the super Bowl.
There's stars all around us. People I recognize people that
still are playing, people that have retired coaches. Trista, my
question for you is we just kind of got off
(16:28):
this Taylor Frankie Paul conversation and what you think shall
be as the Bachelorette and what this season will do.
I also know that you do deeply care for the
people involved in the show, which makes me think you
also very much care about the show. Where do you
hope the show goes after the Taylor Frankie Paul, you know, season?
What do you hope changes or stays the same? What's
(16:49):
your hopes for this franchise?
Speaker 7 (16:50):
I guess I just feel I wanted to renew people's
love of the show. You know, I love love and
that's why I I mean, obviously I have history with
the show, but I love love, and that's why I
signed up to do the show, you know, for something
fun and exciting that is an escape from normal life
that you can just tune, you know, put in your
(17:12):
living room and and see somebody else fall in love.
And I think at the core of it, that's what
I hope that people get back to. But I really
feel like she's gonna infuse you know, followers into Bachelor
Nation from her show. At least that's what I hope,
because it's been going for so long that I can't
(17:35):
see it ever ending. And and mind you, I think
my daughter kind of wants to be part of it
somehow someway.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
I think.
Speaker 7 (17:47):
She would be like I mean, truly, she would love
to be on the show.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
I mean, and she's part of it so much like
she came on my season.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yes, yeah, yeah, a little wish. That's a headline Blake's
leave from Bachelorette.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
I think we should make it the second Bachelor baby
becomes the Bachelor, and then what if she had about
your baby, and.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Then I would be a Bachelor grandmother.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
No, I don't all right to close up here, team.
I think the spread at least the last time I
checked was four and a half h for the.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Game tomorrow night?
Speaker 4 (18:26):
What's spread?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I think the over was. I got forty seven and
a half. Maybe maybe a little lower than that.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Let's just not a high scoring game.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Let's just check. No, I don't think they expected. Super
Bowls typically are not a high scoring uh. I want
to hear your picks.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I want to see if you're taking the money line,
if you're taking the spread tomorrow night, and who you're
picking for the game.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
The only reason I'm picking.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
For five and a half is the is the over.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
The only reason I'm picking who I'm picking is because
Ryan played for them for a split second, and also
because Molly Mesnik would kill me if I did so.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Seattle Seahawks money line taking them the win?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Yeah, taking them the win?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Beat this bread? Huh Yeah, Okay, I'm just Seahawks. But
I don't think they're going to beat this bread.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Well, no, there they would if they win plus four
and a half. So or no, the Seahawks are favored
by four and a half. Actually, yes, so you don't
think they'll cover the four and a half, but you do?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
I will pick whichever team has the hottest players, and
I will go home tonight.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
No, I need you to do that here as we're
closing up here. Just go ahead and scroll through the
rosters and I need to get that by the You
just hilarious.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You just got excited.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
We're going to find her husband here, by the way.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, I have two amazing wing women women.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
What's what's the strategy as Rachel finds out who the
hottest players and the Seahawks and Patriots are. What is
the strategy to find Rachel a husband tonight?
Speaker 6 (19:57):
So we talked about her type. Yeah, I'm not positive
we're going to find him here because your type is not.
Speaker 7 (20:04):
Yes, pretty boys, boys, we can find a pretty boy.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
The most football players are not like pretty man.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Your Cooper Dejene is here and he's kind of a
pretty boy.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was walking around here
a little bit ago.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Okay, you are going to be here. Who any hoosiers?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Uh, Fernando is here somewhere.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Oh my god, we have to find him.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I know I've heard rumors that Fernando Mendoza is the body.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Tell me where Fernando is?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I have I don't know if I could talk to him.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Well, I'm going to talk to him for you and
then we're getting a picture.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, I think I get very clammy.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
No, I think I just called you Bob almost.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
I don't picture you as getting nervous running.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
We are finding Fernando. I'm on a mission.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
You're on a mission, all right, Rachel, what do we got?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
I feel like the Patriots. I feel like they're a
little hotter.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Okay, so you're picking the Patriots the win? Yeah, who's
standing out to you? On the Patriots?
Speaker 6 (21:01):
He's cute. I can't Cardi B. He's Cardi B. He's
a baby daddy right now.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I don't even know that. I'm so bad.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Rachel's having way too much fun with this game. Our
final vote is the Patriots, though Patriots, Patriots for the win.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Mike Vrabel their coach, absolute stud Okay, okay, he's he's
the man.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
He you know, just got fired two seasons ago and
now leads his team to the super Bowl. It is
a great environment here in San Francisco. Radio Row is
exciting and energetic. We have so much to do today.
You got to walk around, you got to find a husband,
We got to do some interviews. Have a blast this week.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
We gotta go hard.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
We need to start.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Singing the song and maybe he'll come to us.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
The Bachelor to be invited to this event, to meet
my husband.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Everyone always comes back.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
To the Bachelor and to get the job as the
new host of Bachelor Happy Er. If you want to
listen to Rachel, make sure you go check that out,
but don't do it. In replacement of the Almost Famous
podcast until next time.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
I've been Ben, We'll see you later.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
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