It's our favorite time of year: the contestants for the upcoming Bachelorette season have been announced! Ben and Ashley share their honest first impressions when they see the men trying to win the hearts of Rachel OR Gabby.
But it's not all excitement, because there have been a few break-ups in Bachelor Nation. We get into the split between Michelle and Nayte, and the surprise end of Katie Thurston and John Hersey's relationship.
Plus, find out why Mike Johnston hopes to see a love triangle on this upcoming season!
This is the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast with her radio. It is another episode of the Almost Famous podcast I Am a Jerk? Why because when we got on video today, you you have two braces on your wrists and uh, and I was worried. I'm still I'm worried. I know it's a real thing. But I said, Ashley, oh my gosh, what did you do? And you said, I have mommy wrist otherwise known as mommy thumb, otherwise known as something really intense sounding that I don't know how to pronounce. And it happens, and I giggled and and it wasn't nice of me. I just have to admit it to everybody. I wasn't not nice of me. You laugh. But Jared rolls his eyes every time, like I say out every time I show pain, and he's like, what, I'm like, it's my mommy wrist. He's like, nobody takes mommy wrists seriously, but guys, it really hurts. Basically, it's tendonitis, it's a strain. It's actually like it's an injury to your wrist. So that happens from lifting up your baby. And you know, just like I'm not used to lifting things up like that, you know that motion, you know if if you guys can see me a video, it's like a swooping up motion. You're not used to, like twisting your wrists and like your thumb holding a bottle all the time. So I'd say maybe like two months into motherhood, I started feeling a strain um on the inside of my wrists and it's just gotten worse and worse and worse. And Jared and I had a vacation last week, and I thought a couple of days without Dawson picking up and picking him up and bottle feeding and all that I would get a little recovery from it. But but not at all, actually not at all. And my dad, and he's doctor. I go, Dad, I need to go make an appointment to get like a cortozone shot or like this surgery that they do. So I posted this on Instagram. I said, anybody have any experience with mommy wrisk? Holy crap, only so many women have mommy wrist and we don't talk about it. Another thing we don't talk about about motherhood. And so many girls were like, get the braces, make sure you get the braces that enable um that disable your thumb, put ice on it. Girls were saying, like, go get a cortozone shot. They and others were saying, get the surgery, and I was like, surgery sounds intense. It's actually like they just numb the area and slice your wrist open a little bit and they like fix the tendon whatever. But it's very common and we just don't talk about it. But I could just go, you know, this is a mommy thing, a mommy thinking that I can go on and on and on about. But you're probably already bored, and I'm just not like you talk and I'm just like blah blah blah blah blah. I'm sure the mom's out there are screaming, Yes, somebody else is in a camp where you aren't alone. You aren't alone in this Ashley. In fact, you're very much It sounds like um a part of a big group. I've just never heard of it before. I have to tell you this one little story though. Yesterday I go into the liquor store because I needed to get a couple of bottles of liquor for Audrey's. We're making spiked root beer floats for the summer with Dr mcgilla Cutty's um anyway, um, And the guys behind the counter at the liquor store like, what happened? You fall off your bike? And I'm like, I have um what they call mommy wrist. Um. Yeah, it's from like all the movements that I make now that I never used to. And they're like, mommy wrist, I've never heard of that before. Like it's like as if they didn't believe that it was a real thing. Well, actually, here's the deal. I believe you. I do. Well, thank you all right. Actually, we have a huge episode in front of today. This is a big episode. We're gonna break down all the men that were announced for this season of The Bachelor at We like to do this every year, give our first impressions. I like to do it. Ashley says she doesn't, but I think that she likes it more than she thinks she does. I think she You know, I just get scared. I get scared of getting it wrong. I get scared of people thinking that I have judging a book by its cover. Well, here's the deal. People are gonna get mad no matter what they know. This is all and fun. We know nothing about these guys I've never met these men. I have no clue who they are or really what they do or what their personalities are. Like this is a picture in this a name. So here's what you do, listeners, you pull up their pictures and go along with us. You have your fantasy drafts coming up. You need some research done. We're giving our information to you so that you can take that information and make some decisions for yourself as you draft these men based on your first impression from pictures. No spoilers here, we know nothing, So pull up your pictures, right the pictures, guys, it's way better like that. And uh and here we go. All right, let's dive into it. Let's start Ashley. I will announce the name and location and job title, and you give your first impression. I'll follow up. Come on, alright, let's do half and half. Okay, all right, well, let me get started here. Here we go. First, one is Alec. Alec is twenty seven years old. He's a wedding photographer, so he's into love from Houston, Texas. He's cute. These pictures are great. With a white background, everybody looks more attractive. They've really learned, They have really learned. I still want to know what in the world they're thinking before. My first impression of Alec is exactly what I said. This man is look king and he is ready for love. He just might be a little over zealous in the hopeless romantic category. Second one is even even His twenty eight years old. He's a sales executive from San Diego, California. Okay, he has a Thomas vibe as well as a Josh Murray vibe. There's a mix there. So which direction do you see think Avan's gonna go? Obviously, Thomas became one of bachel Nation's favorites, where Josh Murray, well, he's just staying around anymore. Um, I think he's gonna be a prominent character. The guys may not like him, Yeah, I think when I look at even from his picture, I feel, uh like he is going to be intimidating. Is it not intimidating? Yeah, not in like a bully type way, but intimidating in like a he's well rounded. Yeah, yeah, and so it matters if he is a humble gentleman or not. Next one is Brandon. Brandon is twenty three years old. He's a bartender from Carl's Bag, California. All I gotta say is tree, This guy looks deep into his thirties. Yeah, wise wise above his years. That's a nice way of saying it. But he's a nice, handsome man. He just definitely looks older than his age. Twenty three is surprising here. Um. Typically I look at people from the seasons you know now that I'm in my early to mid thirties, and I say, wow, they look like children. Well Brandon does not. He looks like a man that I would listen to for wisdom. Up next, we have Chris. He is a thirty year old mentality coach from Rodondo Beach, California. What is a mentality coach? It's all of different things. Yeah, it can you actually know, I actually do know. It can be an athletics. Athletics it's a big deal or especially like the I mean every sport has a huge mental like component to it, but golf and baseball where you have to stay focused on a little thing, you know, either moving or not moving and uh, and it's just it's helping you get your mind right. I think in life you get a lot of mentality coaches with leaders or you know, parents who just need like some coaching on how to keep their mind in a healthy and good place. So it's not a therapist to where you're working through trauma necessarily. It's more of how do you keep your mind sharp? Oh okay, So it's not like he is a manifesting coach or is it also along those lines? It could be. I mean, I don't know. We don't have a lot of background to what he's a mentality coach for um, he might have some man like I know in mentality coaches in sports because I've I've been around those. They do a lot of visualization, like visualize your next shot, or visualize hitting a home run or so, yeah, I mean in a way, I mean possibly Colin's thirty six years old sales director from Chicago, Illinois. Colin he gives me throwbacks to one of my friends ex boyfriends, who oddly is also in sales in Chicago and just about the same age and has a very similar look. I'd say he's gonna have salesman vibes, like very outgoing, very friendly, but like maybe with a little bit of a sense of phoniness. Yeah, I don't, you know. When I look at Colin Um, it feels like he's gonna try really hard. Yeah, he's gonna try really hard. Good or bad, He's just gonna try really hard. Hey, try really hard in a way that like May grows out girls. Yeah, listeners, please go through all these people with us. Um, just go through, have your first impressions, see what you thinks in him and does up Next is Eric. Eric is twenty nine years old. He's a real estate analyst from Bedminster, New Jersey. Okay, so I'm going to say that he is going to be pretty well liked and he's gonna sound like Nick File because he has that look. Yeah, you know Nick like he doesn't want to be compared to anybody physically, and Nick is far. He's a handsome he is. You know you're saying this. You're saying this to make Nick very happy. Right now. You're worried he's going to listen to this and be like, oh, there's Ashley and you know, comparing me to somebody, there's a look okay, right with the same coloring, in the same scruff, in the same hair texture. Yeah, there you go. Eric looks like a guy that can pick up a guitar and seeing a country song to me, Yes, yes, yeah, see it. There you go. Uh, this will be my last one and then ashall you take a break and I'll take it a way. Uh. Ethan Ethan is twenty seven years old. He's an advertising executive from New York, New York. Ethan's a good looking guy. Um. I just feel like Ethan is going to be that guy in the house that when trouble and chaos is swirling around. He's been in rooms because he is an executive where chaos in turmoil is swirling around and he'll just know how to handle it. Like he'll be that quiet, wise voice. He might not be loud, but he might not be loud enough to be seen, but he's gonna be out of the drama. Okay, Okay, get behind that, you take over now, all right. Next up we have Hayden, who looks like Tony Romo old. Actually, you can't say the name and tell me their age and where they're from and also take the first impression away from me. Okay, sorry, I just can't do. That's unfair to me. Okay. Hayden year old leisure executive whatever the heck that means, Tampa, Florida. He looks like he looks like he looks like an announcer he's going to be on sports. He's like he he maybe played some sports. Not I mean Tony Romo played obviously, but like Hayden is the guy that was always the expert in sports. Maybe wasn't didn't come off the bench very often, but he sure knows the game. Okay, okay, yes, Next up, we have twenty seven year old mortgage broker from Scottsdale, Arizona, and his name is Jacob Jacob. Oh, Jacob Jacob's going home at night one? Um, why no, I'm not saying he's not cute. I'm saying Jacob goes home on night one because he he wears something like I just picturing him being the guy that comes in and like a hotdog suit and it just doesn't go over a well, Like, he doesn't show how good looking he is because he thinks that if he does that, it's gonna be really funny. He gets convinced by producers to do something stupid. All right, and again I can get behind that fury, but there's two girls that are choosing guys, so like, he's too cute to not make it through night one in my opinion, But you know, I guess there's always the grocery store Joe that people are left speechless. Next up, we have James, a twenty five year old meatball enthusiasts. Now, is he going to be our sequel to Pizza Pete? Remember Pizza Peter? Yeah? I hope not. No, that's just not fun to watch. Pizza pe was not fun, not enjoyable year old meat Yes, you heard to write a me eat ball enthusiasts. Uh, this guy, I mean we've had the food people before. Grocery store Joe barely got away with it, meaning he got let go on night one, and then he kind of owned that he was into food and it was cute for a while and then he's like, I don't want to be called grocery store Joe. I'm Joe. Um, James is gonna way over play the meatball Like he's gonna have weird and like grotesque jokes about meatballs and it's not gonna go overwhelm. It's not gonna be funny. He's gonna he's gonna get one giggle and then he's gonna be let Oh. We have Jason, a thirty year old investment baker from Santa Monica California, Jason to me. You know, his picture, I don't think does him justice. I have a fe lane that, uh that Jason is going to do fine during this season. However, I think he messes up at some point, like he's like one of the fan favorites until he's not. That's kind of that's the story. I'm like the vibe I'm getting. He he means well, he's gonna have a great time in Paradise, but he just he just doesn't rock, you know, the Bachelor at Okay. I see mikeel buble in his face, and I also think that he's going to be like the best friend character in a rom com, like a John Krasinski. Oh nice, maybe a little friend zoned. That's okay. John's a good looking to guy. Joey, a twenty four year old twin from Brookfield, Connecticut, just you, Oh yeah, you can't take this from me, either you get one or the other. Which I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was just saying that I can't stand doing the first impression and now I keep taking them from you. Yeah, yeah, you want, you want what you can't have. I get it. Okay. So Joey looks like he does a lot of TikTok videos. I think he does because I think he's the guy I've seen, but he looks like he dances on TikTok often. You are so right. No comment couldn't be put any better. John, twenty six year old English teacher from Nashville, Tennessee. He oh, go go go. Okay, this will be your last one that I'm gonna start announcing again because you you're feeling it today. This is a new and approved Ashley post child to where you have a first reaction that is spot on and we need to hear it and use it. Uh. John is an English teacher. He's patient, he's wise, he is kind, but he doesn't last long. We're not gonna last long in my opinion. Okay, So so I see that he is. He's like that guy who's like cut cie, right, Like obviously all the girls think he's so adorable. They wish that they were like into him like that though. You know, it's like he's got a really handsome face, but like I just don't get that vibe where I want to make out with him. But high schoolers, because he's a twenty six year old English teacher, all the sixteen year olds in his class want to be with him. That's creepy. I know it sounds creepy, but you know what I mean. It's all like they have a crush on him. It's all like he's crushing on that. Yeah, that's a thing. I know in high school all the girls that we had a we had a high school teacher that all the girls used to just is weird. Yeah, I thought I was in love with my high school English teacher. Alright, infatuation. Here's Johnny. He's twenty five year old real Ittur from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Johnny, this picture looks like Amelia Wesvez in a Buddy Ducks And I love that. Received My thing is really just he looks like I just like comparing who they look like. Johnny. Johnny looks like a like a movie star here because it looks like he is caked with makeup, And I know they put makeup on for these pictures. Whoever is doing the makeup from Johnny said, We're gonna load you thick so that you shine like your skin literally shines. Okay, yeah he's a front runner. Hey, Jordan's h he's thirty five year old software developer from Tampa, Florida. Ah. He looks just like Matt Damon. He's so friendly and he reminds me of that amazing guy whose name escapes me now from Ali's season, the one that got away, the one that left, and I loved him, and I hope he has a similar character vibe. Jordan looks like he wears whitey tidy's over boxers. See this is why you need to do this. I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say who they look like, and you're gonna say those things. Okay, does he not look like a guy that wears whitey tidys? Yes, yes, I yes, I see that. Like in this picture, his whitey tidies are a little too tight because he basically wants to do the risky business slide with Jared in a very non sexual way. I say that, Yeah, there you go. Hey Jordan vs. Twenty seven year old drag race here from Alpha Retta, Georgia. A drag racer? Is that like an occupation? Can you do? Be? A Dragon's a dragstrip right by my house here in Colorado? It's a big deal. Oh really? I thought it was like something you do as a hobby on the road. No, No, it's a it's a real it's a real thing. Jordan's um, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan's just like a young thing, like young vibes, young, youthful vibe. I think that the girls are gonna be like he's too boyish. Jordan likes to go fast. Jordan's obviously by his profession. He likes to go fast in all things relationships, racing. Um, He's gonna speak fast, talk fast because he's a racer and he's used to getting that adrenaline rush. Being stuck in a house with a bunch of guys sitting around drinking and eating all the time is going to drive him crazy, and I think drive him pun intended. There you go, Hey, Justin Bees thirty two years old. He's a physical therapist from Solano Beach, California. Stability. That's what this man says to me, the opposite. To me, it sounds like he's selfish. He spends because he spends forty five minutes of morning on that hair. I mean he that that does not come naturally. He showers conditions below, drives, curls combs, puts a little hair spray in it, then a little gel, then fluffs it again to get that perfect shine, and then he and then there's no way you have that white of teeth and those perfect of eyebrows unless you are manscaping and bleaching at least once a week. And so he's selfish because he takes up all the all the bathroom space, all the time. Okay, and now you've won me over. I see that exactly. He's a well groomed man. He also reminds me of Dan Cox, justin why from the other twin we have a set of twins, the first set of twins since Haley and Emily, twenty four year old twin brother from Brookfield, Connecticut. Does he TikTok with his brother? I don't think so. This one has the b D energy of the two. He's got a little Pete Davidson vibe going on. He does. You just notice that you you took now announcing the name and profession and first impression from me? Uh huh, I get it. Ash, You're excited about this, this is one of your favorite episodes. You just don't want to admit it to anybody listening. You get excited for the first impressions, and then you act all you know, shy, like who do you know? Hey? Justin Why? Yeah he is more Pete Davidson to him, he is less put together. He does the TikTok videos, but he's the brother that doesn't enjoy it. He doesn't want to be there. He does, Yeah, he does it because they're too good looking twins and he knows he can make some money doing it. And then they get that has to be on the Bachelor, and he's like, this is our big shot, you know. So good for him. I hope he's there for love all right, Oh my goodness, he is the one. He's the twin that's like, yeah, we have to do more twin TikTok's. Yeah, you know, these guys are so used to hitting on girls together and it works well for this season since they're two girls together as well. Well, I don't even think about that. Okay, here's Kurt. He's twenty nine year old college football coach from Lubit, Texas, and he's got a Jason Mesnick vibe. Sweet and sensitive but confident. I get it. Yeah, an old soul who's disciplined, and discipline is gonna play against him during this season because there is no rhythm or routine or discipline to being on the batch story. You really just have to go with the flow, which is gonna stretch Kirk, but it's also not gonna be easy for Kirk. Oh my god, Benji, don't have any more guys we have to go through. You better keep these descriptions coming. Oh my gosh, there's a lot of dudes this season, all right. Up next is Logan. He's a twenty six year old videographer from San Diego, California. I'm sorry, but I have to do another comparison. He looks like Chris Souls in this picture, but like crystals from Andy season, not crystals from a Bachelor season. Totally different. Suave. Yeah, yeah, he needs a makeover. Then what you're saying because crystals ton of potential? Oh I agree. I mean I think that's what we'd use for Logan. A lot of potential, A lot of potential. There. Hey Mario, thirty one year old personal trainer from Naperville, Illinois. Uh, just super friendly, smiley guy, a friend of all um. But then again, at the same time, I say that could be an enemytual. He also has that little thing in his eye that says like I'd like to come across as your bro, but really I like to store drama. Yeah, I'm getting more of like this guy has muscles and places that I've never seen muscles happen before. Yeah, I don't know. I feel like he's skinny based on the facial picture. Some more like athletic Bill. I could see it. I could see. Well, he's a personal trainer. He's got a good smile. The first impression, if I have known nothing else, is he's going to be similar to a lot of the guys on the season that we really like. That makes it a long ways. I think from his smile when I give him the benefit of the down and say he's a nice man. Um. I don't know if he ends up with her at the end, with them one of I don't know how this is even working at this point with one of them at the end. But he's around for a while. He's around for a while, including this guy Matt. He's twenty five years old. He's a shipping executive from San Diego, California. I get great vibes from Matt. Yeah, I do too, Matt. Just I look at Matt's picture, I do wonder what he's doing with his facial hair underneath his bottom lip, Like is it just non existing? There's yeah, and it looks like he's shaved it. Yeah, it looks like he shaved it, which makes his like mouth look bigger. You know what I'm saying, Like, yes, yeah, so I don't I've never seen that before. I've never seen and it happened. Like that's an interesting tactic um one that might go far. I hope it's not going on during the season because I have a feeling that people at first are gonna be like, oh, Man's a really good looking guy. Then they're gonna close to be like sums up, and then like, oh yeah, he has no hair from his bottom lip to his chin. Um. I don't know who knows. Hey. Michael is a thirty two year old pharmaceutical salesman from Long Beach, California. I can't figure him out. I feel like he might be a night winner. I think Michael is a strong neck because whatever it is he's wearing around his neck that piece of joy leg looks heavy and so at least he has a strong neck to support the rest of his body. I got nothing else to say about him, so we'll move on. To Nate, a thirty three year old electrical engineer from Chicago. I like Nate. He's cool, he's um, he's funny, and he's easy to talk to. He is easy to talk to you. He's a sweet man. You say, it's so definitively and I love that. Yeah, No, I mean it. He's easy to talk to. He looks good in a suit, so he's gonna make a great first impression on the ladies. I feel like Nate uh is also just gonna be one of those guys that people in the house enjoy being around. Uh huh. Concur Quincy, we've switched again. Are we keeping a rhythm or not? Are you doing first impressions? And I think we should just I don't know, I think we should. I'm switching back. I'm doing the reading now. I'm just gonna follow your lead here. Okay. You do, you do you you feel, you feel it and you go with it, and I'm just I'm just gonna ride along, okay, Okay. Cool so. Quincy is a twenty five year old life coach from Miami. Well. Quincy is a life coach because he has a great story to tell. There's something in his life that has happened. We're all going to be on the edge of our seat listening to and we're gonna go. There's a reason why Quincy wants the most out of life, not only for himself but the people around him. He is an encourager, He is a supporter, He is a motivator. He is somebody who makes others better and as a result, Quincy shines on the Bachelorette. Do you know what you're going to do really well? When you're a parent. You're gonna be that parent who like opens a book and they don't know how to read yet, and you just make up what every page says, and you make the most elaborate story. I can't wait. My my seventh grade principle said I was a B S rum, which I think makes sense considering where my career path has gone. You got away with words. You can Yeah, you can fluff up something you know for a long time. Um, this is just the most fantastic thing I've ever read. Underneath this photo of a man who looks like Jack Black, Robbie is a thirty three year old magician from l A. I will say that he will become the audio engineers and the producer's favorites, because I do know a lot of those people, and I do know a lot of them love magic, and I know they love that castle in l A. That's like the magic the magic Castle. And so Robbie, he's gonna be there a few weeks strictly because the audio engineers and the producers are going to say to these, to the Bachelrettes, you just got to keep him around because we have to know how he cuts somebody in half. I mean, how many tricks is he going to do to try to woo these ladies? So many tricks. It'll be fun for us to watch. It may not be fun for them, but I don't know his magic ever not fun. I guess that if a guy is trying to do a trick to make you kiss him, it's probably not fun. But we'll see. This is more creepy. But yes, I see what you're saying. Ryan is a thirty six year old investment director from Boston, and I gotta, I gotta put my two cents into here. He is like Clayton two point Oh, he's like Clayton in uh, I guess eight years he's Clayton, but way more like um not the word comes to mind, and I don't mean it this way like aggressive in a bad way, just like very intentional. That's a better way. Um and intentional and almost say hey, man, like you don't need to speak so confident confidently to me all the time. And you also don't have to speak down to me all the time. And I think I think Ryan has the ability to not know it, but to speak down to the people around him. Spencer the twenty seven year old venture capitalist from Chicago. Um, he is a Oh I have done anything to say because I got nothing to say, so I wouna. Let you tell tell a story here. Oh, well, Spencer's your dreamer. I mean he is one of those guys. Oh that's hilarious. Okay. Why why is he a dreamer? Well, he's a dreamer because his whole life he's always seen the bright spots. He's always seen the hope filled spots. He's always believed in the greater story, which is why he's a venture capitalist. He wants to invest into these new companies he startups and help be a part of a greater story. So when he talks about his job, he doesn't say he's a venture capitalist. Why would he say he's a venture capitalist. They're gonna be That can mean anything. He is a story creator, that's what he calls himself. And when somebody says what does that mean, he goes I like to invest into the stories of others to see them succeed. That Spencer, does he mean it? I don't know. I think he just wants to make money, but he says it. Termaine, twenty eight year old crypto guy from Naperville, Illinois. I gotta say something about him. He's full of himself. He's so full of himself. I'm afraid that he might come off like that guy on Michelle season who was just iy ikey. Remember that guy that was a limited really early on for like a good date. Yeah, he sketch. I want to know what a crypto guy means. Here's the deal. Crypto has taken a massive fall during his season of the Bachelor. So as he has no phone or computer, and he probably has his life savings invested in the crypto, he has no clue that his life savings have quickly dwindled to nothing. I mean, in fact being cut in half, possibly depending on what his cost basis is. It's completely gone away. So Tremaine comes into the season as this visionary, as as this creator, as this artist, as this guy that talks about he's investing into the future. He leaves the Bachelor, opens up his you know, coin base app, and goes, oh, crap, I have nothing. You think that he's itching to get his phone in his computer the entire time, and like every day, there's an anxiety about it. Well, I mean, for a long time in the crypto world, you made money on a long term investor. So if you invested early, you're making a lot of money over the long term. Well, in the last five months, you really only made money being a day trader of crypto because crypto is so volatile and so up and down, and so if he had to step away from that world for I don't know how long he was there, let's say a month. Uh, he lost out on a lot. A lot of people did. I'm one of them. Hey, no, shame Toremaine in your game, But we all have been hurting because of crypto. I just got to watch it happen, and you were oblivious to it because you were filming, And so I got the enjoyment of every day waking up mean son of a gun. This hurts and Tremaine just like was you know, on a beach or cruise ship or wherever he was doing random stuff with the bachelorettes. So ignorance is bliss in this case, possibly possibly until a big shock when he opened his computer. Okay, Tino is a twenty eight year old general contractor from i adel Rey, California. Like like we have seen in the past couple of seasons, lots of l A locals. And do you know what I found out recently? The casting producers take to dating apps sometimes to find these guys, which is crazy to me. They have not they have that few good applications from guys. You think that they'd have stacks and stacks and then they find some diamonds in the rough. But the fact that they have to go out of their way and get on dating apps, it's crazy. Tina's throwing me Tyler Cameron vibes. Really. Oh, I'm just saying it. Watch out for him. Well, speaking of Tyler's, we've got Tyler a year old small business owner from Wildwood, New Jersey. He's giving me Michael a vibes. Interesting. Yeah, he's he's a sweet boy, sweet boy. He's a sweet boy. He cares, he cares. He's not around a long time, but he's a sweet boy, sweetboy. Al right. Next up, we have Zach at twenty. Lastly, Zach a twenty five year old tech executive from Anaheim Hills, California. He looks like he's been on the show before, does he not? Like? Have you not seen this profile picture before? Chad Johnson? Chad Johnson right there? I mean that is that is a Chad Johnson. Zach is the villain. He's the first person on this whole time. I've said, I am confident that Zach is a villain this season. I don't know why. I think it's because of the Chad kind of look alike. Uh. But yeah, Zach comes in. He's very hot. He didn't even quit his job to come on the show. He took a week's worth of vacation knowing that he was going to find a way to get in and get out and make a name for himself. And I think he did it by being the villain. Okay, okay, okay, now I'm telling you this right now. Actually, for all the listeners out there, this this last segment would not be fun unless you walk through each of these guys with us. Give us your opinions. You don't know anything about them. You're seeing a picture, So pull up their pictures. It's been released. Go through them, give us your first impression, send it into us. What do you think? What do you what are you feeling? We could be wrong, In fact, we're mostly wrong on all of them, but at least now you know their names, their occupation, and where they're from. And so go do your homework, do your research, look at the pictures, pick your favorites, because hey, within the next week, you're gonna have your bachelorette fantasy drafts. We all know you're doing it, and you need to be well prepared. And so if you need Ashley's first impression on these men for that fantasy draft, we're giving it free and willingly right here on the Almost Famous Podcast. Ashley, we need to take a break. When we come back, we have a lot of headlines this week. Um, some that are not fun to talk about, some that are shocking. Uh, but hey, it's our job, so let's share our opinions right here on the Almost Face Podcast. It is time for bachelor headlines with our resident expert, Ashley I Kennetti Ashley. The first one here is a big one. It's a really big one. Uh, and it's shocking to me. Honestly, I did not expect this or see this coming. But the bachelorettes Michelle Young and Nate break up after six months. Well, I guess after the finale eleard six months ago. This according nine months Yeah, this according to e A Rose has wilted. They say, Um, this was Michelle's statement on our Instagram. I'm struggling to say that Nate and I will be going our separate ways, but I stand with him and knowing the heaviness that is present in both of our hearts as this relationship has been very real for us. Um. She said to you, Nate, you clearly became my best friend and the love I have for you is incredibly strong. I will never stop wanting to see you succeed. Um. She talks about how difficult the relationship in the public I was, and then Nate echoed her sentiment by saying, we both started this journey we were looking for our soulmates are forever our best friends. However, as we grow and learn, we realize that sometimes somebody that you hold dear in your heart isn't someone that you're meant to spend the rest of your life with um, so you want to speculate a little bit. I mean, I hate doing like you know. It makes me feel bad because like we've met these people in real life. They've always been so kind to us. And then it's like you want to like dish, do you want to Well, here's what I know. A few weeks ago, I think it was probably two weeks ago, there were rumors swirling about the two of them not being together, and they both came out publicly and said, Hey, even though we aren't together our time doesn't mean that we've broken up. Remember our headline where she was seen out without her ring and that was within the past month. And then she got to Instagram and she said, I never liked to address things like this, but like I was, I gave my ring across the table for a friend to put on. So now we have to kind of think was that for real or was that as an excuse making was she not ready to be public about it? But then Ben, there are other things. They were both spotted at Wango Tango together. After that, they were spotted and matching outfits at Wango Tango, and that was two weeks ago. To be specific, it was sixteen days ago. You were there, right, yeah, I was there. Now. We did want them on the podcast. They were on the rundown to be on that Whango Tango podcast, but they left before their slot to come and sit down with me. Now, was that intentional or not? I'm not sure. They weren't the only one, like, okay, so they're rep like their pr um rep. She wrapped a couple of the bachelor people that were there that day, and all of them were kind of leaving Waingo Tango at the same time. I think that they had another event or dinner scheduled, so they were like all getting out of there. So I'm not going to say that they intentionally didn't come on the podcast because they were on the rocks. From what I saw, I went go tango and it was very brief. The times that I saw them. I saw them like out in the parking lot, they seemed in good spirits. I saw them at the bar, they also seemed a good spirits. I was like, you guys were the most studding couple I've ever seen in my life, Like, holy crap um. And that was basically it Also, I'll give credit to the reddit boards. I went on the reddit boards and read about this stuff, and they wonder whether or not they were together during Wango Tango, whether they had been broken up at that point, and then they just like stuck it through because it was the weekend of events and they didn't want to cancel. There's also an interview from the Red Carpet of Wango Tango in which Nate I watched it, and it's awkward because Nate is totally checked out and Michelle is talking about their future and she's the only one for like four and a half minutes just talking about their their upcoming plans together as a couple. Uh. So people wonder whether they were like she was just trying to put on good face and he couldn't like lie. Uh And then finally, as far as rumors go, and like you know, message board chatter, there was somebody said that the week of the Texas shooting, which was like, I guess four weeks ago now, Um, Michelle was in the teacher's lounge crying about their breakup and the shooting was understandably making her even more emotional that week. I don't know how somebody would know that. I guess that would be like somebody at the school saw this soon after it was announced that she was no longer going back to teaching, but she did finish out this year. Sounds like no matter what, Michelle, I mean, I don't know a lot about Nate right now, but it sounds like Michelle has a lot going on, right I mean, as a teacher, obviously you have a lot to process and a lot to hold emotionally. And then she does leave that profession, which is a big decision considering how long she's done it and how passionate she is about it. Uh, she has a breakup. She sounds she's a lot going on. Uh, it is a sad breakup because I really thought with their story and kind of the men at the end of her season that they were for real. Um. I also thought it was for real because I mean, geez, the Bachelor gave him a lot of money to go buy a house, so I thought, Hey, everyone wants to know what's happening to the money. Did they buy a house? I'm assuming they didn't buy a house, because I think there we would have had a headline saying Michelle and Nate use money given by the bachelor to buy a house and like, then they'll end up showing the real estate because that's what they do. Like in the media world, we never saw that, so you know, mostly people are like they have to give back the ring if they've only been to if they've been together less than two years. Uh, this is way more money than the ring. Yeah. If I was them, I would have gone buy a house right away and said, hey, no matter what happens, we split this, right baby, They say, yes, Um, okay, Well. Moving on to happier news Bachelor Nations, Tia Booth is pregnant. She's expecting first child with fiance Taylor mock Is. According to e she is so happy for them. He is going to be a great mom. She's I can't wait to see the mom realness from her too. She says. Um this has of course been like the most challenging follower's day thus far because she lost her dad a couple of months ago. She goes, I've never felt such overwhelming sadness and pure joy at the same time. It's been difficult to be grateful for the good as if one of the most important people in my life is missing. As one of the most poor people in my life is missing the celebration. I wish I could tell my dad the good news in person. It brings me peace that he knows about it long before I do. Um. Welcoming a new little life while mourning the loss of another proofs that that high emotions can exist simultaneously. I have no doubt that my dad had a hand in this. That is so so sweet, so many feelings just reading those words. Um, I'm really happy again for them, and I think that she is fully through her first trimester. Well, she also had some drama when it came to posting about this right she posted in well why did Instagram take it down? All I saw like once I saw on her story a picture with like the hand on the belly and all that, I was like, oh my gosh, she's this is a pregnancy announcement. And then she said something along the lines of like to go go check out my post. And then she realized minutes later that the post was taken down. Why would Instagram ever take that down? That's so strange, it's odd. I'm sure it was just a mess up. Glitch glitch. Not a good glitch though. The worst glitch you look forward to your pregnancy announcement plant and then it goes south like that. It's tough. It's tough. Oh well, it doesn't matter. Everybody loved the announcement once they got to see it. Oh, I know they did. I know they did. Hey, we're gonna share a little bit about what we know about Bachelor in Paradise here and just a bit um. But before we do, we have a couple of headlines from some past contestants on The Bachelor. At Brian, who was married to Rachel from Rachel Lindsay season of The Bachelor, share secret to successful marriage with Rachel Lindsay. Also, they talked about their plan for kids. This according to US Weekly, Brian says, I feel like it's been a long time, but what we really think about it. Time has gone by, has flown by since meeting Rachel. He said that, Um, we just got a new how else we have our dogs, kids are in the future as well. We just got a lot of things going on. Our careers are flourishing. We're both in a good place. Um. And as far as making their relationship a priority, he says, we can't lose sight of why we came together In the first place, and that was love right. So we have planned dates, even if it's just the most basic thing. Um, as long as we're spending quality time together, that's what matters. The pastor who performed their wedding did premarital counseling with them and said that it was important for you to continue to date and pursue your partner and to set aside time to have those quality intimate moments with each other where you can grow as a couple. Next headline is Mike Johnson is hoping for a love triangle with Gabby and Rachel on The Bachelorette. This according to US Weekly. Okay, so this is what Mike said. It's pretty simple. He goes, I would really love to see a love triangle between one of the contestants and then two bachelor at leads slightly a controversial statement since I think a lot of people are already weary about the girls being pitted against each other, even though it seems like production keeps saying that like they've done everything they could to to prevent that. So he said this on Talking Out his podcast with Brian absloh and he says, Then Brian responded by saying, they seem like best friends. They're obviously relying on each other and leaning on each other throughout this entire journey. But I got a figure there's gonna be one guy that's gonna walk in that's gonna knock their socks off, and there may be going to both veer towards him, and I have to agree. I mean, I'm not like rooting for a love triangle because I do want them to be as little conflict between the girls as possible, But there's gonna be there's gonna be a guy that they both want. I just don't know how it doesn't happen crazy unnatural. Yeah, I just don't know how it doesn't happen, Like I don't. I still have confused on the format it has to. I guess the question is how as Rachel and Gabby handle And it sounds like they handle it really well. Um Jason or Jason Tartick brought up a good point and he's like, hey, they can make it through this season being Bachelorette. It's gonna be the post show airing where things could get hard because you see maybe one of the bachelorette's doing better than the other on social media. Or the fans reaction is better. So there's just I feel like, right now they're handling it really well. Um so it makes me think even if there's a love triangle, they talk it out and they have good communication. Well yeah, speaking of good communication, Bachelor Nations, Zach Clark is fiercely defending ex Tasia Adams from haters. This according to e I loved this. When I saw this, I think I came across before there were even articles written about it. So somebody wrote under tastious picture saying like why do you constantly post selfies and boobs and bikinis? And then Zach couldn't help himself and he went and he stood up for his acts, which is I think it's awesome. He says, congrats you got me. My first and hopefully last clap back. He wrote in the comments section directed at her, says enough is enough. One of the problems with social media is it gives people like you a voice and unwarranted power. The truth is, we see this, I see this. It's hard to avoid and it's just not nice, especially when you have no idea what you're talking about. Slash, you just making up, so you're just mad he's just angry. Yeah, yeah, well makes sense. He's protecting Tasia, which is a big deal. That's great of him. Maybe it doesn't isn't necessarily his role or his responsibile anymore. But it's nice that he's doing it. I think so. He also elaborates. He says even more. He says, I struggle to see why you would be mean for no reason. Being kind is so much easier, I promise, So at Tasha, the noise, keep doing your thing, wear the clothes you want to wear, take the videos you want to take, and keep shining. I know you, and I know you're a really good person. M m, well, uh, it's nice that Zach is defending Tassia, and it is. I mean, if I was to read through the lines, it's like, oh, he's defending Tassia because they ended on decent terms. It sounds like um, and then he wants the truth to be out there. A couple more headlines for you, Jojoe Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers. TBS show canceled weeks before premiere. This according to page six, this sucks. Okay, So last summer they filmed this show called The Big d and before it even premiere. The network announced on Friday that to ensure we have the right content mixed to support our network strategies, we're canceling it. We're grateful to Jojo and Jordans and the executive producers for their partnership through the process. Was a ten episode dating series which I saw commercials for UM. Your there following ten divorce couples who move into a tropical villa in Costa Rica together and they relearned how to date and look for love with other contestants surrounded by your like b X. It sounds like a great concept, a really great concept, UM. But the cancelation comes after Warner Media emerged with Discovery in April two and acting the Big d UM was in a string of other cancelations after the network announced that it would be cutting three billion in costs over the next three years. How frustrating that must be to be excited about being the host of a show going down and experiencing the filming of the show and then it getting canceled before it airs. Well, here's my question. I don't know the entertainment world well enough. Somebody out there can explain to me. But if it's already filmed and your hosts are already paid and you have all the content, why do you cancel it before you air it? I mean it's just think of read something about the fact that, like they'd have to pay for the advertisements that ran during it, and like that's what they don't want to put the money on the show that they think they can replace with another show that would do possibly better or in their opinion, is like more on brand for them. Now okay, well, hey that is too bad. That is frustrating. So we have two more headlines. One is bigger than the other. We started with an announcement of a breakup, and we're an end. Really our headlines with an announcement of a breakup. Bachelorrette star Katie Thurston and John Hersey break up. The decision was not made lightly this according to People, So the breakup was confirmed this morning when John took to Instagram and said, as Katie stayed earlier, we are no longer dating. The decision was not made lightly and it was obviously not an easy one to make. I love being able to share special moments with all of you, the funny ones, the happy ones, the outrageous, embarrassing and heartfelt ones. But I don't know if I will ever get it, will ever get easier to share sad ones. I appreciate every one of you that has supported us through this journey. We could not and would not be here without you. So, you know, quite a week for bachelor breakups. That's really sad, really sucky. I thought their story was cool. You know how she ended up dating long, long ish term six months a guy that she eliminated week three of her season. Oh but you know alas another breakup. Yeah, I mean it was an other breakup. Here's the thing. They were just dating. I know, they're having like talks about the future. This wasn't a couple that came off of the show like engaged, and they were thinking that they were going to make it forever. They were in the figure it out stage. People break up from the figure it out stage all the time, Like that's just a thing. And so it is unfortunate, uh, you know, because it was a cool story, but it's not shocking in the sense of you know, the Michelle Nates where it's like, hey, you two thought you were gonna make it forever, which you know, this showed sometimes works sometimes doesn't they're just figuring it out and so they're moving forward now, just not together. Okay, final headline, it's a big one, just in the sense of we're excited about it. Bachelor in Paradise Season eight premier day announced this according to screen right, Okay, so it's going to be premiering on Tuesday, September at eight pm, and then the double episodes, you know, two episodes a week, will begin on Monday, octob over a third at eight so you'll get one episode the week of September, and then we will continue the Paradise journey on October three and have two episodes a week. It's gonna be weird having Paradise in the fall, right, It's such a summer show. But maybe we'll get more episodes because of it. It'll be like a full blown Bachelor's season. I just feel like I'm gonna enjoy watching Paradise whenever happens. I'm excited about it. Some good contestants this year. Well, before we go today, I just want to take a moment to thank all the fabulous v i P partners from our I Heart Wango Tango episode. We had the most perfect gifts for a summertime Chaser brand shirts. Tank stresses everything that your summer wardrobe needs, not your mother's high quality salon inspired clean hair care products, indoor beauty organic products. The skin CareLine works for all types of skin, especially those with sensitive skin. Title Hairsticks, the nineties hair trend is back for perfectly in vict hair and teleties. Say goodbye to breakable clips with the Teletized Hairclip Collection and finally essential Elements. Plus the perfect snack for you. Plus the perfect snack for all your summer barbecues and parties. Mary's Gone Crackers and Rob's Backstage Popcorn. Rob's Backstage Popcorn. That is the Jonas Brothers friend Rob a k A big rob Um. They know good popcorn, guys. I know that thanks to everyone. Happy summer, Ashley. This has been great. It's good to be with you. We hope you're doing well. Please recover soon. My mommy risks time. Well, we're gonna We're gonna be thinking about you and checking in. But until next week. I've been been, I've been Ashley. 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