The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous PodcastBen and Ashley finally get to hang with one of their favorite contestants from Paradise this season, Jess Girod!
We break the news to her that she have had a missed opportunity with Tanner, but Jess sets the record straight!
Plus, find out what’s REALLY going on between Jess and Blake!
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This is an.
Interview we've been waiting for. Why you asked, well, because she's one of our favorites. We in a free agency draft, Ashley and myself would have drafted her first to be in Paradise.
Oh wow, thanks guys.
And then yeah, she became very sought after in Paradise, even if she knew it or not. Jess, Welcome to the Almost Famis podcast.
Hi guys, thanks for having me. Hi.
Of course, we love having you. And I'd have to say that you probably were the most sought after woman. I don't think there was one guy there that wasn't like, Yeah, I'd like to get to know Jess better.
Thanks. Yeah, I don't know. It was definitely an interesting new environment, but I'm glad that I went and everyone was very nice.
So they were very nice to you.
Let's be honest, like you had to walk out of there with no matter what, at least your confidence being built a little bit, right, Yeah.
I mean yes, and no, I mean I think just like as I get older, you know, that's something I'm working on. But I'm glad in general I walked out of their no like burnt bridges or anything, and just you know, stay out a lot of the drama. Kept to myself, just continue to work on myself. The best thing that you can really like learn from now and take from that based.
On what she has said, we just got to start this thing out with what we committed to doing yesterday.
Okay, but I was going to make it more subtle.
Well, no, I don't think there's any settlements. Oh Okay, yesterday we had an interview with Tanner. It was a great interview and he just mentioned kind of actually kind of clarify the adjectives I'm going to use here. He just mentioned he was saddened, disappointed that he didn't get a better first impression with you, that he would really have liked the second chance with you, that he is still open to a chance with you. And then we asked, can we tell Jess this and try to make this happen or at least bring it to her attention, and he said, yes, you can.
She looks genuinely happy.
I think, I.
Mean, that's really I think that's really sweet. He's really really nice guy. I'm like, you know, although like I think my time at Paradise was it maybe the most fun I've ever had in my life. It was he was a good person to end the experience with. He was so nice to me and so understanding. I think it would have been horrible if, like the situation was different, someone arose and they like hated me for changing my mind the next day, like, he was so kind to me about that, So I'm.
Glad that, Yeah he was. He was like, let's get out of here.
Then, you know, Okay, well, let's go back in time and change what he wishes he could have, and that is ask you out on a date, you know, up with you that first week instead of cat. Do you see your experience and Paradise going any differently?
I mean I think regardless, that would make the experience different just because it's something that didn't happen. But I mean I did at that point. It was so early on. I think it was like day three or you know, it was really early. So I would have gone on at the he was someone that I was interested in meeting, but I don't. I can't really get on like in terms of who I would have ended up. I think no matter what, I was mentally there alone to be honest, So I don't. I don't think it would have changed a lot.
The conversation with Tanner yesterday really just showed us, Jess, what I think everybody on that beach was feeling is that you were somebody who a lot of people wanted to get to know because you carried yourself well. But you had just mentioned a few minutes ago that this wasn't the most fun experience for you, and I think the show did that. Did your storyline a little bit of an injustice, if that's true, because it looked like you were having a great time outside of obviously, you know, some just disconnection between you and Blake. But after that, you know, there was literally a line of dudes standing there being like, hey, well you're singing.
That she's having fun.
That's why my question is I I just look.
Actually relatively missed me most of the time. You're always in your head.
Yeah, well that's my question for you is what was not fun about being in Paradise for you?
Okay? Yeah, so you know, I think for me, I did not go into Paradise prepared at all. I didn't think about what it would be like if the guy like took my best friend on a date or if I wasn't sure if the guy was with was my most like compatible person, Like I just didn't prepare it at all, and I handled it exactly how I would outside of the show, like cameras off, like I am someone that takes time and I'm very logical and I'm very reasonable in the relationship. I think my number one thing on Paradise that I wish I did differently was just have more fun. I'm like, for me, it was like, I don't want to leave here and figure it out if we're gonna work or not, Like I want to figure out then and there. And so I think my biggest thing that if I were to change anything, even though I was being myself, So I don't really know if I would change it, but maybe just have more fun and not need yes to know black and white answers and just enjoy the time and figure it out as I went instead of figuring it out right then there.
I feel like we're very similar in this way. I feel like there's probably no chance that you were going to have fun in that environment.
I too, No, I mean like you can't help not taking it seriously, is what I mean. Like, you can.
Definitely have fun in the environment. I definitely did, but you can't not take it seriously.
Yeah, do you know what I mean?
It's just like there's some people out there that just like love's too important. Yeah, okay, but does This is one thing that I was so confused about looking at your journey and almost like every week you would say something like why me, why is this going wrong? Everything's going wrong around me? And I was like, why does she think everything's going wrong? The only thing that's going wrong is she doesn't know whether or not she likes Blake enough.
Yeah right?
Am I right?
Yeah? No, I mean it definitely was frustrating even watching myself back, you know, and I'm sure you guys both understand, like you learn a lot watching yourself back, You learn a lot even the second that you leave and reflecting in that moment, you know, it was just a course of events, Like the guy was really interested in took my best friend on a date. There was never really a time for me to explore that. I also didn't really want.
To didn't make that a big deal either. They didn't make it seem like you were really into him. Well there was like a blip.
Yeah, I mean, can I hal that our conversations about it very maturely, like it wasn't I can't be upset that, like that was his choice, Like you know, there's only so much I could actually be frustrated about. And then, you know, I thought Blake and I were always on the same page, like every answer that I every question that I was asked, every answer I gave, I thought he would say the same thing. And so when things started switching and I was caught off guard, it was just I was so overwhelmed because I was like, I just feel like this, like what is going on? And so yeah, no, I think I played a victim mindset a bit, but it was more so just like I thought I was going to be in love a lot quicker, like I thought first day, second day, I'd be like, oh this, I'm leaving with him for sure. And there was never a time where I genuinely thought that without a like a butt or what if in the back of my mind.
So there was like, was there ever a moment where you thought that Blake could be the person that you would leave the beach with? Or was that always a little doubt?
I think, Well, you know, I'm a firm belief I mean, I hope. I'm holding on to the day that I meet my husband, like there won't be a doubt. So I feel like, you know, I knew that there was a lot of things that Blake and I had to figure out outside of there, and that made me really anxious, like the fact that he lives in Canada, the fact that he's always traveling and I'm just starting my career. I can't take that much PTO. Like that's where my brain goes. I'm like, how do I like is there? Like do I take my laptop to Africa? Like it doesn't Like I just was thinking all these things, and I was like, I don't want to leave here in a relationship for not to work out, and I have to deal with that and I get my hopes up. And so I wasn't romanticizing it because I wanted it. I didn't want. I wanted to be real with myself, but to a fault though, because I feel like if I was a little bit more loose, maybe it could have been different. But I think I was just protecting myself. I don't I'm still trying to figure that out.
I don't know my advice recently for any new bachelor or bachelorette when I talked to him, because it used to be different. It's changed for me over the last few years as I look back on that experience, and it really is like, hey, try to enjoy it, Like if you can find those moments to enjoy, loosen up, like you're gonna feel like everything is out to get you, You're gonna hold so tight to your words and your actions and just like nobody's trying to ruin you. You can only kind of do that yourself and just try to have fun with it. Because I didn't I have fun with it now looking back, I was not having fun when I was in it, and so I get that too, that this is a really stressful environment most of the time to try to be human, And.
Yeah, I agree.
Can you tell us about your first few moments with Blake, you know, your first day or two and initially like discovering each other's personalities, because I don't think we got to see enough of that because I think, like on paper, Bet and I didn't put the two of you together just knowing what we knew from previous seasons.
Yeah, no, definitely. So I remember day one, I was the last girl to get there, so it's pretty late in the day. Blake and I had a conversation at night. He was the last conversation I had. I think I talked to maybe Sean talked to me one time, and then it was Blake. They were I only.
Talked to you know, Sean wanted to talk to you.
I think those were the only two guys I'd talked to that night, if my memory serves me correctly. But so Blake and I, it was just I was so overwhelmed I got there Lee, everyone was like already spent the whole day talking everybody. I felt very behind, Like I was like, oh, I believe I'm going home. My guess like I don't. Everyone's kind of locked in. And so I saw Blake. I never thought that he'd be interested too. I got a hint that he might be, so I was like, okay, So I like pulled him aside, and I shake when I get nervous, I get a little like shaky in my little thing, even if like an interview, like for a job, I shake. So he It was the first time in my whole bachelor experience I shaked every time with Zach. It was the first time that I didn't shake with someone with a.
Guy, not all that's just the most adorable thing I've ever heard.
So I take signs very seriously. So I was like, I think I told him too, or no, I mean I didn't. But I remember running back to the girls and I was like, I didn't shake, and they were like freaking out because they knew about that. And so I think from then on, like there was just a comfort with Blake. We were very just like goofy and it was very just chill nothing. I didn't feel pressure to like lead a conversation. I felt okay sitting in silence with him. It just was comfortable.
I think Blake like there is there's a maturity there that does make this really shit make more sense. I do agree there was some like obvious things that this it would have been really hard to make this thing work. But for a while during the season, it did feel like you two might be that one couple that surprises us and ends up together at d N. How big of a factor did Katie showing up to the beach play in kind of the split or the disconnecting relationship.
So, to be honest, that played out very differently than my experience on the.
Show, Oh tell us everything.
So when she came down. Prior to her coming down, we had a conversation about past relationships. Of course I had an idea of who Blake was, but I never watched that season. I didn't know the extent of it, and so he walked me through that and it like jogged a memory. Of course I've heard about it, but I just didn't really know, and so we kind of walked through that relationship and I was under the impression that with what he was telling me that they it was just like there would be no connection again, There're no like it wouldn't rekindle. They have things that they had to like talk about. There was no closure, but there was no like they wouldn't rekindle. So when she came down, for my emotions, of course it didn't really air this way, but my emotions were just of course, I was like, you know, a little bit freaking out. No one wants to see the guy that you're with, Specs Beyonce come down. But it was more of like I felt for both of them. That's like, it's so hard to see your ex. They have a lot to talk about, and you know, I was like okay, without happening. There was no point where I was thinking that he was going to end things and go after her from what I from the perception of the conversation, the conversation that we had, so that roast ceremony night just wasn't a good night for me. Then air every roast, but the roasts were pretty pretty brutal for everyone, and so we just had a really off night that night and the next day at the roast ceremony, when he ended it, I thought it was more so just like I don't know, I just I think my perception is a little bit different. I didn't really realize it was like the KD factor into it.
Well, our perception is not that he wanted to go after her though well yeah, yeah, okay.
No, And I didn't mean it like that, but like I think for me, like a lot of like because he talked about how what I mean is like he talked about like he knew what love was and that wasn't it, and like I didn't really like I don't know, I guess because I was so so much in the moment, like I didn't really process that that's what it was. And so when he left, it was like, I was kind of overwhelmed cause I was like, we're confused. I was like, we had time to figure it out and I didn't understand and then watching it back and like, oh that's because yeah, okay, gotcha.
Met Yeah the Yeah, I mean I think that whole roast. I mean, the roast has been something that we were very confused because you already have typically in life, we can assume that most people have insecurities. They probably most people have felt lonely, and most people that are on that beach or on this show, because they're human, doesn't like to be put down. That roast just seemed very odd to us, and it didn't feel like it was going to go anywhere good. It could only cause chaos and something bad to happen. So yeah, I can understand why you said that was a tough night for everybody, because that's just a weird thing to put people into.
A lot of feelings were hurt. Wasn't a fun night.
You might be able to clarify something for us, Jess. This is a question that fans have asked that no other contestant has been able to answer yet. And I feel like you're going to be our best shot at this. As Blake left after ending relationship, Kylie was the one that ran after him, surprised all of us. We had never seen him talk during the whole season, and yet this feels like all of a sudden they were going to make out going into the van, but obviously they didn't. But we never really understood what was going on there. Were they really good friends? Had they were they talking a lot?
Like? What?
Could you give us a context for why she ran au?
Blake and I would always hang out with the girls together. He was very close to he was He was just very close to a lot of people. Him and Kylie would go to him a lot for advice about her and Avan's relationship. And there was never a time on that beach where I was uncomfortable by it or felt off by it. I think watching that, definitely I could see how people were confused by it. But they did have a good friendship and I knew about that. I knew about their conversation from both of both ends, So for me, I didn't really see anything that I just I think if everyone got to see their friendship more, it wouldn't have been as confusing. So I think it's just because it's like, all of a sudden, it's Kylie and Blake. Where did that come from? Like, you don't, we don't really see a lot of friends, So I think that's where it gets weird. But in terms of I never thought or and I don't and I still don't think that there's anything going on there.
Oh okay, that was my follow up. So now they're both single? Still nothing? No, okay.
Now, if Katie weren't to have come down those stairs, do you guys think you would have made it another week? You just said that you thought you needed another figure it out conversation just from what we saw. I feel like you guys are probably having to figure it out too often.
What do you think?
I remember going into that night wanting to do something fun with him and like romantic with him. We hadn't done anything really that romantic yet, so I was trying to, you know, step up a little bit. And I knew that I was probably the reason that there was some dance to let me like come step up. And so when he pulled me you saw me, I was like very confused. I was like, you're scaring me, Like I just didn't see that coming at all. But I think regardless of Katie coming down, you know, we did that switch, and I think he probably would have still pulled back at some point, I'm assuming, but I just think we were never on the same page.
Yeah, this I mean, and I understand that, and that's fair that the season didn't tell or finish some storylines. And I think one of the ways that we saw you doing the switch or you staying open as obviously Blake going on a day and then you kissing Tyler that never really got resolved. It was just kind of a scene and then it kind of sat out there, like what was this end? Doesn't mean anything? Did it mean anything? Was it a surprise to you? Can you elaborate a little bit on that situation?
Jen came down and took Blake on a date. I didn't expect that happening at all. I didn't think he would say yes, not that he couldn't, and not that he I would never tell him not to. I just the night before we had a conversation where he pretty much that he was all in. So I just didn't think that he would go on a date. And so when that happened, to be honest, I think it just had a switch in my head of like what am I doing? And when we had a private conversation, he was like, I'm going on this date and I want you to figure you're out here and like, you know, figured out. So I took that time to as much as I was like felt guilty and didn't really want to do it because I was like, not that I want, dude. I was just like I felt guilty. The guy just was like, this feels weird. But I was like, well, Blake's on a date making out a jed, so I should probably take this time to talk to the connections that I've been wanting to talk to. And when Tyler and I talked, even though it was a great conversation, we both just it's just we had a lot going on with with he a lot with Mercedes, and I had a lot with Blake, So we just kind of agreed on going separate ways. Everyone knew about it. It wasn't this like hidden thing. I talked to Blake, I talked to Mercedes, Tyler talked to Mercedes. I think because it was handled very well. I mean, I'm assuming it was handled pretty decently that there was no drama to air. But yeah, I think It was one of those things where it was like I finally saw like Blake left for a day, he wasn't there. It felt like what it was like for him not to be there, and I kissed another guy and it just wasn't really a good feeling.
I felt like Blake like begrudgingly, like, I think he would have gone on the date if you had shown no like hesitation about him.
What do you think about that?
I think so too. I think he Yeah, I think.
I thought he almost did you a favor because he was like, I'm just going to get out of your hair for a day.
Yeah. I think in his perspective he was doing that to like leave and give me space. At the time, I wasn't understanding that because I was like, that's taking away from Jen being able to make a connection. So I think at the time on Paradise, I was like, oh, well, he's actually wanting to explore gen because he did say to me when he told me it was nice to feel wanted. So he left me the page telling me that he was pretty much trying it out, so like, yes, he was doing me a favor, but he also was doing that for him too.
Have you talked to him.
Since, Yes, we're good friends. Like we're like on goad terms nothing no issues or anything like.
You text sometimes or you DM sometimes, or like you face time sometimes.
Just you know, communicate however you communicate with the front.
Have you seen him in person? Since no, liar not lying.
No, we're very good. We're very good friends. I signed up for hard questions, not these cluestion. No.
Uh, you know it is it is fun. I wouldn't be surprised if you saw each other. You could have said yes, because it feels like Blake has done a great job but kind of rallying a lot of people from Paradise together to do the stuff he loves and that other people love doing. You know, we see uh snapshots and social media often with other contestants. In fact, I had to ask if Rachel and Blake were dating, and somebody said, no, they're just friends. So maybe he's just really good at being friends with all these really pretty girls from Paradise.
I don't know.
Just when you went down to the beach, was Blake the person that was top on your list or who was top?
No? I did not think I would be on Blake's list, so I didn't even think about that. I hate to say list, but I was just mainly interested in getting to know Tanner and Tyler. But ultimately you can say that, but it's a matter of who wants to explore you too. So I went into it not being too hard on the list because it's just a matter of like the you know, it's mutual and compatibility and all that.
We talked about your friendship with Kat, Like we love Kat as a reality star.
She's amazing.
Uh, you guys seem like an incompatible friend couple though, Like you are so just sweet and wholesome.
And she is.
Loud in your face and intense, So like, tell us about how you guys click.
Yeah, So we became close on Bachelor because we had a conversation that we're both from Florida and we actually had some mutual friends. She went to a college near my hometown and so it was just like a very like a familiar face almost like it felt like home a little bit. And so we just got close through then and we're very very different. But also she has a good heart, and I think it's, yeah, it's unfortunate that you know, she does bring such good TV and I think that that was very leaned into because she, I mean, she was one of the people that carried the season with with how good a TV she is. But he has more to offer to her than what we're just seeing, and she's someone what I love about her is she is very willing to grow and listen to different perspectives. And she helps me grow too, and other in different ways that I didn't know that I needed help in. So it's just it's a lot of learning and growing from each other.
It always gets a little too much at times, but it was it was a tough season for Cat. I mean, she had a couple of weeks there where it felt like the stuff we were seeing was, yes, gonna be criticized and she was going to get you know, the the negative comments made about her. But as a friend who lived through this with her, what was that like watching that take you know, play out?
Do you mean like watching it back or like being.
There watching it back and then knowing how you know, she was obviously very hurt just by the public statements she made.
No matter what is warranted or not. I think the hate that this franchise receives is just it's just insane and so blown out of proportion. I felt very bad for her because as a friend, it was very hard to see, even just like her own comments section on her social media page is like that is. It just was really heartbreaking because I don't think anyone deserves the level of hate that they get on an edited TV show. So I think the heart of the most hardest thing was to just see how hard it was for her. For what people didn't really understand was that she's human and she's watching this back with and reliving these hard moments, and on top of that, receiving so much hate from it that it's really bad her mental health. And I just that was like my my biggest concern with her all season was making sure she was okay and it.
Was tough, and how is she doing now with the John Henry split.
I'm excited for her to be able to, you know, share more about that, but I think all she can do right now is just focus on herself and heal. But she's a lot stronger than anyone could imagine, so I think she'll be okay.
Well, to close out here, Jess, it really was fantastic. You know, you came on the podcast a while back and you left the podcast, and Ashley and I are like that girl, she's special, you know, she's She's a great person to have on this show, and obviously people we're seeing this on the beach as well. I feel like, if anything, you should walk away from this experience knowing that there was a lot of guys that still want to talk to you and that wanted to talk to you once Blake left the scene. Final question from me here, is there anything different that you wish you would have done in Paradise other than having more fun? Mostly I'm talking about in decisions there.
I think for me, like I know I've seen or heard before that my lack of experience comes off as immaturity. But for me, like that is something that I take a lot of pride in that I don't just date around don't. I don't date a lot of people, And that's because when I meet my per and I'm excited to be like, well, I saved all of this about myself for you, and so I think for me, the only thing that I would do differently is maybe just I would have waited. I think there's ways to learn about what you're looking for and what you're wanting outside of just dating. A bunch of people. So that was the first time. That was the most dating that I have ever done on Paradise, and I didn't really do that. So I think the one thing I've done differently is to just go into it more confident in other ways than just having more experience.
I get that, totally.
Take it from somebody who's married to somebody who self admittedly did not have a lot of experience.
She had a lot of one.
Yeah, like first dates, but uh yeah, not a lot of second dates or third dates. And you know, there is there's there's a beauty in that, and there's an admiration I think too, where now that I've gotten to know more about my wife, there's just it was and always easy. But she she's a tough girl, and she did she cares deeply about the decision she's making and so.
Be proud of that.
And uh, one day, who knows, somebody may slide into your DMS and.
You could get getting married three years later.
I guess I do have one low a cress and has anybody from the Bachelor of franchise slid into your DM since.
This show, no one that any celebrities let's go to I.
Know I don't know.
I don't know, because yes, gracious.
I do not. I don't think I come off as someone that would probably openly respond to. So I feel like I feel like that's the reason why it may not happen very frequently, because I don't normally. Yeah, I don't really, Yeah, I don't know. I'm not much of like a I don't know. I like to keep to myself and if I'm single, I like to really lean into that, and I like things to happen organically. So I think in terms of world, I am taking a break from from bochelor boys. I'm just learning to love myself right now, focus on my job, my career, moving all that before I answered in DMS. But if it's like a really hot guy out there that's listening, he'll try give me the option to open it or not open it.
I was gonna say, I met my wife through a DM, so like, don't say no to everybody, because there could be somebody that all of a sudden, you go on your first day and I guess this is it.
We're over.
I'm not against it. I like the option of it being there, but I may not take it.
So we'll see Ben's also not the kind of guy that you would think is going to go and slide into DMS, so like that's who you should.
Be looking out for, right, I agree?
I agree.
Okay, the weirdos who never go on social media, but when they do they have.
My last question for you is are you truly shocked at any of these breakups?
I think the only emotion I have is just I feel so sad because a lot of them, we're very excited to share their relationships, so it's just really sad to be friends with everyone and see that that didn't come into fruition. So I can't imagine being in their position. So it's just sad.
Oh wait, wait, I'm sorry. We just keep thinking about things.
Just as kind of like she's really good.
This is like a congressional hearing where like we asked the tough question, She's like, huh, yeah, what's the thing I can say here that makes sense?
Well, I've had a lot of interview prep for jobs, so I have I'm very good at.
She's very good.
We said at the top of the show, you know we're gonna have hard questions, and she goes, I like hard questions. Well, now we know, because she could beat around the bullsh around them.
Yeah, She's like, I feel like we should just be like is it a yes or no?
Oh gosh, I'm not good. Yes, there's no questions.
Okay, okay, But like I saw you on FaceTime with Kylie. There was like that FaceTime with you and Kylie And was it Cat or was it Mercedes?
I don't know. I forget who was with the like.
New like thing or those fireworks and stuff.
Yeah, you guys like posted that you guys were on a FaceTime excited that you didn't have to go on reality TV again.
That was pre breakup.
Oh so it was screenshot from weeks days earlier.
Pre breakup. I think we were just we were excited regardless about the breakup. It was just us being excited for the point of it was no more trolls. We were like, no more trolls, Like we're done, like we can live in sunshine and rainbows and no more mean people. That was like what we were doing.
I can't believe there's still mean people talking to you guys.
Yeah, I just block. I don't even I'm like a bye, yeah.
But then they get a little vindicated from the block that it's like, oh I got to her.
Yeah, I guess, but my mental health is more important than like.
Real yeah mart statement, Yeah yeah, she's taken the wise route. She's taking the wise route by just saying you don't need to be a part of my life. Then, Jess, it's great to have you on here. You showed well. We hope to see you back on television, but I also hope that maybe you meet somebody before that opportunity comes about again for you. So but it was a pleasure watching this season as our first pick in the Bachelor in Paradise fantasy draft that never existed did well for You're so sweet.
Please give me media training.
Bye, my gosh.
This has been another episode of the Almost Fumous podcast. Of course, we had what I would say, I mean, I think social media responded to it as well. Probably the star, maybe not the most watched person this season, but definitely the one that gathered the biggest following and had a lot of support coming off of the season of Bachelor in Paradise es with us today. Another great week for the A Listener's podcast. So until next time, I've been Ben, I've been
N Ashley Sea follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
