1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: This is that Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: Bachelor Countdown. We're here with another episode of the Almost 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: Famous podcast. We are continuing our countdown to Grant season, 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: which is airing January twenty seventh, and to countdown to 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: this season, we are interviewing some past leads, some of 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: the leads that you love the most, past bachelors from 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: way back when to more recently and today. We have 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: a fan favorite, somebody who is beloved by both myself 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: and Ashley, and the Almost Famous listener is somebody that's 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: always a great interview, Chris Sols. Welcome to the podcast. 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: Thank you guys for having me. I'm just sitting here 12 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 2: with my goosebump sharing your lovely voice. Ben. You are 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: such a sweetheart and such nice things, so thank you 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: for having me. 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 3: We gets so excited to have you on because it's 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 3: so much fun and so giggly. I don't know why 17 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 3: it's so giggly. I mean, maybe it's just because you know, 18 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 3: ten years ago, like you and I I sat on 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 3: your lap on a tractor. 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: Really good, right, yes? 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, okay, So we talked to you a couple 22 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 3: of months ago about Whitney and that whole thing. We 23 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 3: did a lot of the behind the scenes of your 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 3: dates and your choice. Your choice, Okay, your final, your 25 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 3: final decision, So we won't talk about that so much. Guys, 26 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 3: if you do want to hear that you missed out 27 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: on it, go back. I think it was like October 28 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 3: or something. 29 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love this question. By the way, Christy prepped 30 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: for this question that asked was about to ask you. 31 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: I want you to take it serious though, I really need. 32 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 3: If you need to like just be silent for a 33 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 3: few minutes, totally fine, that's great, suspenseful sence, silence. And 34 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 3: I don't expect to like move up in my ranks. 35 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 3: But the question to you is if you had to 36 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 3: re rank your season and reorder re order the girls, 37 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 3: not the whole season, but like, let's think about your 38 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 3: like top eight just so randomly, where do people lie? 39 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 3: We can start with number one? Who would be your 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 3: number one? 41 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: Give me number one? 42 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 3: Yeah, and let's be let's be really honest about this one. 43 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: It's not me, you know, it's so hard to look 44 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: back at that. It's a very tough question because it's 45 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: you know, and now it's the whole thing is with 46 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: such an incredible experience just in general, and almost seems 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: surreal looking back because you guys were also freaking great. 48 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: That's really true, and you've all gone on to do 49 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: things that you know we're meant to be for yourselves 50 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: after the show and just you know, I don't know, 51 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: I don't know. 52 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 3: That they can silence. Don't worry you. You have all 53 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 3: the silence. 54 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 2: We're recording me thinking pondering here. 55 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 1: It's a little bit of a tough question, Ashley, honestly 56 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: to ask the top because if you asked me my 57 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: top eight, I wouldn't remember. 58 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: Okay, Okay, fine, okay, So if your top four, if 59 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 3: you to redo your top four in orders and you 60 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 3: could put me in the top four, would I would 61 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 3: believe that at this point, being that you know me 62 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: top four. 63 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: In coolness or top four in depth. 64 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,399 Speaker 3: Of ability, and it's okay if I'm not in there, 65 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 3: it's fine, you could it because no, no, no, all right, 66 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 3: I'm going to lay this out easily for you. Okay. 67 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 3: So we had a Whitney, Becca, then we had Caitlin, 68 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: and then Jade. Those are your top four? Would you 69 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 3: reorder any of your top four? It's okay, We'll give 70 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: you the answer number one, you would have wanted to 71 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: pick Becca. 72 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: You know what would that have been right for either 73 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: of us? 74 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: You know, well you wouldn't have ended up together. 75 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: No, if the outcome was just completely like knowing that 76 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: it probably wasn't going to work anyway, you know, if 77 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: you know, because my feelings were intense and like I 78 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: really was trying to make the pragmatic decision, you know, 79 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: and trying to really find somebody that I thought it 80 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: could work with. It's not just like, of course, I 81 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: mean there was a top eight that could have worked 82 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: with or there was a chance, So I was super 83 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: pragmatic towards the end, like I'm really serious about who 84 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 2: I'm picking. It's not just like I could see myself 85 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 2: being with a lot of the top eight actually, you know, 86 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: And but my unique position being on the farm, like 87 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: was put a different type of spin on everything. So 88 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 2: it was it was there a chance that was gonna 89 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: work with that with the top four. You know, I 90 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 2: could go right down the list and tell you the 91 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: specifics why I thought maybe it may not work with 92 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: just because of my you know, the farming thing. But 93 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 2: would I really truly reorder anything? I mean actually just 94 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: as a person. You know, of course you'd be in 95 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: the top four. You know, did I think that? It 96 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: was like there was a future for you in Arlington? 97 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 2: And me I just felt, you know, I had to 98 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: be realistic there. You know, Caitlin was spectacular, Jade, I 99 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 2: probably would, it. 100 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 3: Makes sense, made pragmatically. 101 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 2: In every way she was she was. It was just 102 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 2: too many I had. I had too many great people. 103 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: You did, I did. 104 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: So you had an amazing season of the cast. I 105 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: mean we could go down like with the Carles and 106 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: like we can keep going and name so many people 107 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: who have shown to be incredible humans outside of the 108 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: show but also on the show, caused for incredible experiences, 109 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: actually being one of those to prove both ways great 110 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: on the show and great off the show. 111 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 3: Oh thanks, guys. Okay, we don't have to butter me 112 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: up anymore, but I do. 113 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: She just needed it, Chris, I'm waiting for that for 114 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: ten years. 115 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: I know that, I know, I know about how much 116 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: Chris loves me. 117 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 1: Okay, so you were clearly. 118 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: A top four. Actually, we just knew you weren't cut 119 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 2: out for the farm. We just. 120 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 3: No, no, Chris didn't get to know my personality well 121 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: until after the show at all we did. I really 122 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: don't feel like I knew you at all leaving the show, 123 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 3: but have gotten to know you so well over ten years, 124 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 3: and very glad that we could be friends. I want 125 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 3: to know one thing about Kelsey, because I get asked 126 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: about Kelsey mostly via Instagram, Like whatever I post like 127 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 3: a throwback of our of our season, people are like, 128 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 3: was Kelsey as crazy as she seems? And I always 129 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 3: say she was more crazy? So what's your take your 130 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:28,799 Speaker 3: memories of Kelsey? 131 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: I mean, it's hard to know because I was I 132 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: knew her, you know, I knew all of you less 133 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 2: than you guys knew each other. You know, I had 134 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 2: what you see from my you know you know this Ashley, 135 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: and then obviously no firsthand that just that amount of 136 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 2: interaction I was able to have. I took a lot 137 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: of my hints from you guys getting to know you 138 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: know a lot of cases between between talking to you 139 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: guys somewhat off camera and we're on camera at some 140 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: point about at Kelsey and but you know when I 141 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: showed up to the row ceremony and and the panic 142 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: attack and then you know, the kiss saying and that 143 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: when she tried to you know, there were some things 144 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: that just were some real red flags. So I didn't 145 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: necessarily see that. I have a strong feeling of genuineness, 146 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: I would say, crazy, I don't know, because I just 147 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 2: didn't know her that well, be honest, but I just 148 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: didn't A lot of things didn't add up, and so 149 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: I was just kind of in this position of like, oh, 150 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: way too many questions marks here. So and you guys 151 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: saw probably that, and you saw much more of her 152 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: than I did. So I was just feeling like this 153 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: was a little bit of a just felt a little uncertain. 154 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 3: To be honest, she didn't show you much, right, it was, 155 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 3: she surely didn't. 156 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: There was a big facade there. I felt that she 157 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: had had between what she was in front of me 158 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: and what she was in front of you guys. 159 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,119 Speaker 3: All right, Ben, do your serious stuff. Now he's laughing 160 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 3: at me. 161 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: I'm laughing at Ashley because this, uh is stuff that 162 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: she she would just love to sit down for like 163 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: four hours and and just be like, all right, Chris, 164 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: what was happening here with you? 165 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: Ashley? I would that's on my bucket list. 166 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: Oh my god, special series. It would be to be wild, Chris. 167 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: I do want to get into some current life stuff. Start. 168 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: We always ask you, and today I have a different 169 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: approach as a friend, and again, somebody that loves you 170 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: and thinks so highly of you, but I have a 171 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: different approach. So I'm gonna start with this question dating 172 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: now for you, Chris Souls. We are breaking down the Bachelor. 173 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: We're talking about relationships. Obviously a question always comes up, 174 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: is Chris single or not? And I would love to 175 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: get an answer to it. 176 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I'm still single. I haven't really been dating 177 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,199 Speaker 2: too seriously, but you know, yeah, still single, still working 178 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: on no Marono for a little bit here, and yeah, 179 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: still wanting to day, still wanting to find love and 180 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 2: all of those things. So but yeah, kind of in 181 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: that season of my life, where been through a lot 182 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: of stuff, you know, so just trying to get myself 183 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: in a good position to just to still find somebody. 184 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: You're working on yourself right now, which is always an 185 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: incredible thing to do, especially when it comes from a 186 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: genuine place. If there's one thing I know about you, 187 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: there's an immense amount of genuineness and authenticity too. When 188 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: you say something like that, what does it mean for 189 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: you right now to be working on yourself. 190 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, just trying to you know, improve my 191 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: my health first of all, you know, just sort of 192 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: uh getting back to a discipline on getting to the gym, 193 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: doing cold punches and things like that. You know, that's 194 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: a popular thing these days and sana things like that. 195 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 2: Just uh and just really my parents have have have 196 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 2: you know fully retired, and I've taken over their portion 197 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: of the business and bought them out. So I've moved 198 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: on with some things professionally there that have been been 199 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: huge for me, just time commitments, and you know, it 200 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: didn't health wise. Just uh. I I actually quit drinking 201 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 2: in August and and plan to continue to do so 202 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: for for the foreseeable future, which is a big deal 203 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: for me. And so I've kind of been uh embracing 204 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: that and uh, you know, hopefully that'll make make a 205 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 2: lot of things better in my life. 206 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: So I have so many questions for you, uh one 207 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: and and I just I feel like I want to 208 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: spit them all out at you right now, but I'm 209 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: going to slow myself down. Uh. We'll start with I 210 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: guess the choice to not drink, obviously is dry January. 211 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: Everybody's a lot of people, I guess are like doing 212 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: it this month. What have you seen the benefits be 213 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: in your own personal life since you've been sober since 214 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: August that maybe we're expected or unexpected. 215 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 2: I think, I mean obviously just that the level of 216 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 2: self made anxiety and stress. You know, internally, I deal 217 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 2: with a lot of stuff to begin with, just with 218 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: work and having as being an entrepreneur and agriculture. I mean, 219 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 2: that's just it's something I embrace. But also alcohol does 220 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: not make it easier, makes it tougher. So mentally I'm 221 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 2: just much more clear headed. And it's pretty astounding. I 222 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 2: think it's the longest I've went without drinking since I 223 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,719 Speaker 2: was a kid, a little kid, which is scary to me. 224 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, just I mean mentally the clear that that, 225 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 2: uh that you get from that, and and starting to 226 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: work on other things that you know, just meditation and 227 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: things like that to start to you know, it's you're 228 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: getting to be an old man now, I get the 229 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: next you know, four years of my life ahead of me, 230 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: so trying to really hopefully embrace that and and uh uh, 231 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: you know, it allows me to be a better person 232 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: to the people that I love, you know, and more 233 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: more there, you know, more present, which is huge, you 234 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: know with my family and and friends and and starting 235 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 2: to you know, start to uh uncloud my my whole 236 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: well being and and uh you know, then being able 237 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 2: to focus on you know, if you like going to 238 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: the gym instead of you know, kind of being a 239 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 2: struggle and just recovering every every so often from you know, 240 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,319 Speaker 2: all calls is not really healthy for you. The more 241 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 2: you learn about it is it's not good for you. 242 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 2: And it's just a way of life for me for 243 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 2: so long. So it's to start to change that is Ah, 244 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: it's a huge you know, it's a sense of like 245 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 2: acomplishment too. To be able to to do that gives 246 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 2: you a strong sense of uh, I don't know, just 247 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: feeling of you know, I don't know, it makes you 248 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: anytime you accomplish something like that, that's not it's it's 249 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: just very tough that it makes you better at everything, 250 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: you know, makes you want to go out and do more, 251 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: and whether it's building better relationships with friends and family, 252 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 2: or or do better in work in my career in agriculture, 253 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: and and just makes every life a little bit better. 254 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 2: So I'd recommend it to anyone. 255 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, something to be proud of something that you should 256 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: be extremely proud of. I mean not, you know, I'm 257 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: not sitting here being like, hey, everybody needs to go sober. 258 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: But the people that I do know who have made 259 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: that decision and done it, you know, since August, Goodness, 260 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: what an accomplishment I have met. No, I haven't met 261 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: one person that's like, I regret that decision to go so, 262 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: you know, to stop drinking. I'n't met one person yet. 263 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,719 Speaker 1: And I know many right now that have done that 264 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: for you know, a multiple array of reasons. Chris, Uh, 265 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: just congrats man. Uh, there's very I want to say 266 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: this to you because you and I spoke on the show, 267 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: on a show or personally, and maybe I'm sharing too much, 268 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: and and growing up in Indiana myself being an ag 269 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: drinking just becomes more of like a cultural thing, right 270 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: You're you're just doing it throughout the day. It doesn't 271 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: really mean a cocktail at night by the fire. It's like, no, 272 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: this is just what we do in the Midwest. It's 273 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: it's what it's our world is. We we drink and 274 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: we do what we have to do. I want to 275 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: say it's incredibly courageous. It also just proves to me 276 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: once again, how strong you are personally to be able 277 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: to stop in the midst of what is a very 278 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: normal thing, I'm sure in your area of the country. 279 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, thank you, Ben as always kind of words always, 280 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: but no, it is the hardest thing I've ever done, 281 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: I think. And yeah, I mean there's it's a NonStop 282 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 2: It's cultural. I mean, it's really a deep cultural thing 283 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: in the Midwest, especially in a your culture. I mean 284 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: I can remember I was I drank long before I 285 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: could drive, you know, before I had a license or 286 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: you know, beer was a very, very much staple and 287 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 2: it was just a common and there was not much 288 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: to do, you know, in the in the country. And 289 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 2: it stress is huge. Mental health is is a I 290 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: watch a lot of friends. I've had friends my age 291 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 2: commit suicide. Very you know, I know many friends at 292 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 2: farm and have committed suicide. I know they had problems 293 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 2: with drinking. And you know, you know, in the middle 294 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: of winter, like it is right now zero degrees out 295 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: right now, fairly above zero, and you're living with stress. 296 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 2: I mean, people are going through a lot of financial 297 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 2: straits right now with with agriculture being very tough, and uh, 298 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: this is like you know, depression city in a lot 299 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 2: of ways, and and the only way to a lot 300 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: of people cope is alcohol. And it's a cheap form 301 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: of of of stress relief. And so it's it's something 302 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 2: that I've seen a lot of people struggle with. You know, 303 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 2: I have myself obviously and not obviously, but I have, 304 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 2: you know. And and so it's it's something that exists 305 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: in a big way, and it doesn't get it's not 306 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 2: something that a lot of people know about. We're kind 307 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: of still in the flyover states. So and you get 308 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: it too, man. But yeah, So it's it's uh, kind 309 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: of just made my mind up. It's like enough is enough, 310 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: and hopefully I can it can help people out there 311 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 2: that they are seeking to do the same. 312 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: I don't know, if you want to share. It's very 313 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: obvious to us when we got on here. You've lost 314 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: a lot of weight. Dude, I mean, you look good. 315 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 1: I know. 316 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 3: I'm sorry. The way that I was like, why are 317 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,479 Speaker 3: you so skinny? It's like the most ashly way of 318 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 3: saying it. Do you look great? 319 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: It's very empathetic, like it comes from the most beautiful 320 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: place in Ashley's heart. Is like, Chris, you're skinny. Something's happening. 321 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: It's like in my Italian grandma exactly. 322 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 3: That's where I come from a Jewish Italian family. So 323 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 3: it's like, I'm sorry if I have no filter. Yeah, 324 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 3: but Chris, how much weight have you lost? 325 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 2: I mean I don't really know it probably at least 326 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 2: ten goodness? Yeah yeah, oh yeah, I mean my average. 327 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 2: I don't weigh myself very often, but I could tell 328 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 2: I'm as skinny as I've been since Hize school. 329 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, you're looking good man, you look great. 330 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 2: I'll keep working on I just you know, can't eat enough. 331 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: I've been really you know, yoga, I've been really getting 332 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 2: into yoga, Ben, Yeah, you should. I'd like to. 333 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 1: I do it every morning, do you really? 334 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 2: Yeah? 335 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: It's like, well for four days a week. I guess 336 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: I shouldn't say every morning, four days a week. 337 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 2: I like it. 338 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: I can touch my toes. You should see it. It's 339 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: pretty awesome. 340 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: It's like amazing. Wow. 341 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 3: You guys want to like give like a lifestyle, uh, 342 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 3: like class to Jared or something. He wants to get 343 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 3: into this wellness? Uh do you mind? Chris? If we 344 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 3: ask what was there a certain thing that inspired you 345 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 3: to go sober? Over the summer or was it just 346 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 3: like a general thing that you were thinking of for 347 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 3: a while. 348 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 2: You know, I don't think I can put a finger 349 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: on anything. I just it's a great question. I think 350 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 2: that I have a lot of responsibility in life and 351 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 2: in general, I've you know, it's just getting to a 352 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: point where the hangovers aren't getting any easier. It became 353 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 2: more of not necessarily doing it as much for fun 354 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 2: as much as your doing it is something to cover 355 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,239 Speaker 2: up just stress in general. And I felt like I'm 356 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: at a point in my life where still single and 357 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: still want to I want a family, and I still 358 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 2: have a farming business that I care about tremendously and 359 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: want to see see it through to uh, you know, 360 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,239 Speaker 2: to build on and and there's just nothing good that 361 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 2: was coming from me from drinking, and so I feel 362 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 2: like it uh And from a health perspective, I wanted 363 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 2: to wanted to be the best that I can be, 364 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 2: and and as I get older, that's getting harder, you know, 365 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 2: So continuing to poison myself, you know, wasn't helping that process. Figure. 366 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: You know, this is time to its Alcohol has not 367 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 2: always worked for me, you know, So. 368 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 3: Have you got on a sober date. 369 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 2: Yet that's the one thing I have not done. I 370 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: have not done that yet. I've done a lot of 371 00:19:55,880 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 2: things like, yeah, being around friends that have I've you know, 372 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 2: all my friends like to drink a ton, you know, 373 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 2: it's you know, So that's that I have not gone 374 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 2: on this over date yet. 375 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: Offacially, the UH I wrote about the book. It was 376 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: the first time I really like it came out publicly, 377 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: but I had a you know, opioid addiction. Didn't really 378 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,719 Speaker 1: realize it was until maybe post and it was. It 379 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: was a numbing practice for me. I realized how much 380 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: I was numbing things. Right, you get off of it, 381 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: you get some clarity of mind, and you're like, how 382 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: did I live life for so long numbing all these 383 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: things or getting more anxious about things. Maybe that I 384 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: now with a clear head, don't have to be as 385 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: anxious about I can process them, work through them. So 386 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: that's why, you know, when we talk about this, Chris, 387 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: I'm like, it's it's never a bad decision. As soon 388 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 1: as the light bulb goes off. Some will never choose 389 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: to make the decision to correct course. But as soon 390 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: as that light bulb goes off and you're like this 391 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: might be something I want to stop. It's incredibly courageous 392 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: to stop, and and I just think it should be 393 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: celebrated well. In our closing moments with you here, because 394 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: we only have a few we've talked about the reordering 395 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: of picks actually made the top four. We didn't get 396 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: any other clarity on that, but that was a big deal. 397 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: That was a huge deal for Ashley. She cannot wait 398 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: you to tell you too. It's okay, you would have 399 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: been there. She's going to run down stairs and say, 400 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: I can just see it now, Jared, guess what, Crystal me. Yeah. Chris, 401 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: we've talked about your career. We've talked about all these things, 402 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: and what are you looking forward to now in this 403 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: new kind of season of life as you take over 404 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 1: the business, as you're still in Iowa. Obviously you said 405 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,959 Speaker 1: romance is something you still desire. But my what I 406 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: was going to do on the show is tell you, like, hey, 407 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: if that's really something you desire, like you got to 408 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: go do it. Man, Like this this excuse of where 409 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 1: you live maybe, uh, is only going to work for 410 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: so long. So what does life look like moving forward? 411 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 3: You know? 412 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 2: Uh, that's a good question. I mean I think the 413 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 2: same things, just sort of getting back to, you know, 414 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 2: focusing on on my my career and and you know, 415 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: I think that person's out there, you know. I think 416 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 2: when I'm at my best, that's when I'll find that person, right, so, 417 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: you know, making sure my side of the streets clean, 418 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: so somebody that when I do find somebody that I'm 419 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 2: ready with an open heart and and proud of myself, 420 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 2: you know, being able to to be that person that 421 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: they are looking for. So I just that is, you know, 422 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: I'm I'm yeah, I feel like farming and and just 423 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 2: doing what I'm passionate, passionate about there it's here, and 424 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 2: I was still feeds my soul. So now just finding 425 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 2: a partner to go along with it. And and yeah, 426 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 2: I don't know that hopefully the future has got a 427 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 2: lot of surprises in it for me. But farming is 428 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: pretty much where it's going to be. And but but yeah, 429 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 2: going after, like you said, being a little more proactive, 430 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 2: I think here in the next few years to sort 431 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 2: of get something done. Ben. 432 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we still have to find a girl that'll 433 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 3: move to Iowa for you. So if we want to 434 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 3: do any setups, that's still number one right. 435 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: It's always been you know, you know, yeah, but it's uh, 436 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: I mean I think that that Iowa and in another 437 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 2: place are super achievable. You know, having having a balance 438 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 2: there is very much real. 439 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 3: So we have to look for some girls in Des Moines. 440 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: I mean, trust me, as soon as Chris starts looking, 441 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: it's not gonna take long. The guy's gorgeous, he's kind, 442 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: he's considerate, he has his own business. 443 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 3: Like No, nobody's worried for you. 444 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: No, it's just a it's like a thing of like, well, 445 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: what are you going to start? Man, it's zero degrees outside, 446 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: I don't know. Go out there and find somebody to 447 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: struggle with. It helps keep you warm. Chris, it's always 448 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: a pleasure. Thanks for coming on. Thanks for joining us 449 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: on the countdown to The Bachelor. Are you watching the 450 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: show at all anymore? 451 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: I will tune in. I'm not like an avid watcher. 452 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 2: I just need to get better at that. 453 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, a grand season will be premiering January twenty seventh. 454 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 1: If you want to catch. 455 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 2: It good, maybe I'll try to tune in for this one. 456 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, it'll be worth it this season. Until next time, 457 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: I've been ben Bye. 458 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 3: Guys, I've Been Ashley. Follow the Ben and Ashley I 459 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 3: Almost Famous podcast on iHeartRadio, or subscribe wherever you listen 460 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:45,959 Speaker 3: to podcasts.