1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: with iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of the Almost as podcast. 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 3: I am here with Marina from Gary. 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 2: Season of The Golden Bachelor, and she just told me 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 2: something amazing. 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 3: She goes, I am, what don't you tell them? 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 4: Yes, this is a size ste dress. I'm not supposed 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 4: to get into a size stood dress. 10 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 2: But she did get into a size steel dress. And 11 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 2: who does it belong to her daughter? That is amazing. 12 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: And also your boots are your daughters the high, the 13 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: knee high boots with the four inch heel. 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 3: You're killing it, Marina? How do you feel about you? 15 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 4: All right? 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: Well, tell us a little bit about your backstory before 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: you went on Golden Bachelor. 18 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 4: A simple, humble amigrant from Sri Lanka. I'm so honored 19 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 4: to be here and to represent my culture and to 20 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: recognize diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. And I really feel 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 4: that Golden Bachelor has really elevated the women in our 22 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 4: age group and made us visible. And I had twenty 23 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 4: seven followers on my Instagram when I flat started this 24 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 4: show August first. Today I have nearly thousand, and I 25 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 4: don't know who these people who are following me. 26 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 3: Amazing and I am honored. 27 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 4: I love it, and I really want to honor each 28 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 4: and every woman who is single and older and mature 29 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 4: and wants to own themselves. And I want to tell 30 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 4: them you have power within yourself and reach out and 31 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 4: grab it. And it's great if you have a man 32 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 4: to make you feel like a woman, and if you don't, 33 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 4: that's okay too, because you're a woman, You're a mother, 34 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 4: you're a daughter, you're a sister, and you're somebody special. 35 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 3: I love this settlement. That's so sad, that is so special. 36 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: How do you feel that I feel like that message 37 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: really got out there with the Golden Bachelor. People love 38 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: to see the difference in particularly the way that your 39 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: community was within the house and how all of you 40 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 2: were so supportive of each other. Can you tell us 41 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: about your friendship circle with all those ladies today? 42 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 4: I mean, I really feel very honored to have the 43 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 4: opportunity to so many people reach out to me and 44 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 4: told me that that I represented their cultures and I 45 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 4: was sorry, and they felt like I was one of them, 46 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 4: and I am. 47 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 3: I felt like I belong into. 48 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 4: A group of people that was special and to be 49 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 4: able to be an older woman sixty plus and to 50 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 4: have a minute of visibility. I feel like it's an 51 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 4: opportunity that I have to represent all the others who 52 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 4: was sixty plus and beyond or whether you're twenty two 53 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 4: or sixty plus or one or two, it doesn't really matter. 54 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 4: We have women and we should be able to speak 55 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 4: up and be able to be visible regardless what age 56 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 4: you are. And that's what it really means to me, 57 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 4: you know, and to have that voice. And I really 58 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,839 Speaker 4: feel like ABC and Bachelor called on Bachelor really gave 59 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 4: me that. I mean, really, I mean to me, that's 60 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 4: why I'm here. Yeah, I really feel like I had 61 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 4: that opportunity to speak for not only for myself, but 62 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 4: for all the women out there. 63 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:14,839 Speaker 2: Oh. 64 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: I love this, this, this is awesome. I'm totally switching gears. 65 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: What was your first impression of Gary was a person 66 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 3: that you would normally go for. 67 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 4: Well, I was married to my guy, I got two 68 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 4: beautiful children, mixed culture, so I was actually ready to 69 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 4: take Gary to Sri Lanka. 70 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 3: Are you were on my honeymoon? What would that look like? 71 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 4: That would have really been amazing. He would have an 72 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 4: opportunity to see a very tropical culture. He would see 73 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 4: something that he has probably never seen before and appreciated 74 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 4: the other side of the world literally, and he would 75 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 4: have embraced diversity. 76 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 3: You think that you think that he would have been 77 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: you think he would have fit in Yes, yes, yeah, 78 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 3: we are a common I'm trying to picture him, well, yeah, 79 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 3: Bollywood type movie, in a Bollywood movie. 80 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 4: But I know, I really think Gary woute fit in anywhere. 81 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 82 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 4: I think Gary has a personality to fit in with 83 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 4: anything and has adaptability to adapt to any situation. So 84 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 4: because when I left, I had a phone conversation with him, 85 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 4: he was like I I go and replay that every time, 86 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 4: and I say this genuine concern face. 87 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,559 Speaker 5: You say that you had a phone conversation with him. Yeah, wait, 88 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 5: what conversation with him? And after the show? Uh huh, 89 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 5: I'm not actually doing the show how so tell us 90 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 5: you'll have to find out. 91 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 2: I will not find out thee was tonight. 92 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 3: I do not think it was air. 93 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 4: The finale. I mean, like you, you would see, his 94 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 4: face is so genuine, so authentic, so real. He has 95 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 4: the ability to make any woman feel real, you know, 96 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 4: And I think that's very, very credible, and especially where 97 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 4: he comes from Indiana right across the world to Sri Lanka. 98 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 4: He will fit in. 99 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: So you had a phone call with him, like after 100 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: you were eliminated, mm hmmmm. 101 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 3: And what was that about. Was who initiated it? 102 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 4: Well, I had to leave because I had an issue 103 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 4: with my family, okay, and so I had to call 104 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 4: him and tell him I had to leave because I 105 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 4: had some things that I had to take care of. 106 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 3: Okay. 107 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 4: So, but if you really listen to that phone conversation, 108 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: he was so caring, such a beautiful gentleman, such a 109 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 4: beautiful human being. I wish I could I mean, I 110 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 4: really wish I could tell all the men in his 111 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 4: age group. 112 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: See. 113 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 4: I mean, he's a great example of what a man 114 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 4: should really be. He has so much empathy, he has 115 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 4: so much compassion. Even throughout the seasons, I've seen so 116 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 4: much compassion in him, you know, as a human being regardless. 117 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 4: I mean, I think it's a show at the end 118 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 4: of the day, it's a show, regardless, But at the 119 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 4: end of you know, the way he dealt with every 120 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 4: situation throughout the season, He's a remarkable human being. And 121 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 4: I don't know how they're going to be able to 122 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:19,559 Speaker 4: find another Bachelor two for the next show. Yeah, because 123 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 4: he's he said, as such a high standard. 124 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 3: Yes, you know, do you after. 125 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: All you said about what it did for women of 126 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: that age group, How disappointed would you be if. 127 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 3: There wasn't a next Golden Bachelor received. 128 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 2: So my co host Ben has this theory that they'll 129 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 2: never be able to match Gary, so they're just not 130 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: going to do another one. So but I find that 131 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: to be completely disappointing to the entire fandom. 132 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 4: And to like all the So I want you and 133 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 4: I want to actually agree with Ben. But at the 134 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 4: same time, I think Gary has been able to set 135 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 4: the standard, has raised the ball. In one of my instagrams, 136 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 4: I said, Gary actually raise the bar, and so because 137 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 4: he has raised the bar, I think we have something 138 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 4: to look forward to, and I think we'll be able 139 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:18,719 Speaker 4: to find another Bachelor or one hundred more because we 140 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 4: have been able to identify what it should look like, 141 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 4: because I don't think men really really knew what it was. 142 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 4: In one of the Katie Couric interviews, I said, I'm 143 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 4: raising my son to recognize and value women the way 144 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 4: Gary values women. Because I think there's three women in 145 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 4: this room and that's Ben. So you know, was we 146 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 4: need to speak for ourselves, and I think at the end. 147 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 3: Of the day. 148 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 4: That we will be able to find somebody to get 149 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 4: to fit in to gary shoes. 150 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 3: I think, all right, well, that's very hopeful and I 151 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: certainly I have one more question before we wrap this week. 152 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 3: Some I want to say, like sort. 153 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: Of fake, salacious news came out about Gary. 154 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: It was a Hollywood Reporter article about how like his work, 155 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 3: his past, like work history was like fluffed up a bit, 156 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 3: and how he'd actually had a relationship post the passing 157 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 3: of his wife. 158 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 2: Did that change your mentality. 159 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: Looking forward to seeing him today? 160 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 4: Nothing has changed my perception about it. 161 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's just a story. 162 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, that's him real and there's so many 163 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 4: other stories that we probably don't know, and there are 164 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 4: probably stories that we know. But at the end of 165 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: the day, what really matters is who he really is. 166 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: Is Yeah, I mean no, yes, and I don't I 167 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: can't say I've done a lot of research on it, 168 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: but from what it sounds like, it doesn't sound like 169 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 2: anything worth giving a second thought one day. 170 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 4: You know, I was always raised with the past really 171 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 4: doesn't matter. What matters, just the future and the way 172 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 4: the direction you're going. 173 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 2: To, and let's end with that. Thank you so much, Marina. 174 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: This is a pleasure, my pleasure. 175 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 3: Bye. 176 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 1: Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on iHeartRadio, 177 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.