Podcast Summary

Podcast: First Date with Lauren Compton – YMH Studios
Episode: The Boy-Band Bachelor: Ashley Parker Angel
Date: December 9, 2025
Guest: Ashley Parker Angel (Singer—O Town, actor in Wicked, co-founder High Level Science Supplements)

Episode Overview

Lauren goes on a “first date” with Ashley Parker Angel, diving into his transition from boy-band fame to entrepreneurship, his thoughts on modern dating, the impact of reality TV on relationships, health and wellness obsessions, and all things red flags, romance, and real life. The tone is playful, flirty, and introspective, mixing laughs with candid personal reflection.

Major Discussion Points & Key Insights

Ashley’s Post-Boy Band Life: From O Town to Supplements

• Ashley Discusses His Transition:
  • After O Town and a run in Wicked, Ashley launched a medical-grade supplements company, High Level Science.
  • Balancing entrepreneurship and dating is tough:

    "As a co-founder of a company and a startup, it was my first real experience being full-blown entrepreneur, businessman era… It's so different when you're in entertainment. You play shows at night and you have your whole day." (02:23)

  • The health and wellness space wasn't just a business move—Ashley calls it his "vision" all along.

Modern Dating: Apps, Catfishing, and the IRL Approach

• No Dating Apps for Ashley:

  • Never used them—too many impersonators, too easy for catfishing and AI trickery.
  • Ashley says:

    "People have DMed me and said, 'I was talking to you on this app,' and I'm like, 'That's not me.'" (03:16)

  • Lauren jokes he’d be banned for catfishing—”no one would believe it's you!” (03:08)

• Meeting People Now:

  • Prefers meeting people in real life—especially at the gym, which matches his lifestyle.

    "Call me old school. I like to meet people in real life." (05:27)

  • Cautious about approaching others at the gym, respecting boundaries and vibes.

    "You really don't want to be the person that interrupts someone… but there's enough of a vibe you can pick up on." (06:05)

• How Dating Changed Since O Town:

  • Dated his high school sweetheart during the band, which “kept him out of trouble.”
  • Reality TV made his private life public; breakups and relationships played out in episodes of Making the Band. (08:45)

Red Flags, Chemistry, and Relationship Musts

• What Ashley Looks for:

  • Loves self-deprecating humor and someone who can “laugh at themselves.”
  • Grew up a nerd, identifies with not being “the cool kid” and likes a bit of “nerdy side.” (13:15)

• Big Red Flag:

  • "I can't get behind this idea of being best friends with your exes. Friendly is fine, but best friends? That's a red flag." (16:32)
  • Lauren agrees:

    "I would never be with someone who was friends with one ex. Leave that shit at the door." (17:21)

• Chemistry & Romance:

  • Chemistry is big on “energy.”
  • Historically falls in love easily, but has learned to “pace” himself with age:

    "Maybe, actually, I don't do that for a second. And that was a huge benefit because I launched a company and was able to go all in on that…" (35:54)

First Dates and Relationship Habits

• First Date Dos & Don'ts:

  • Prefers low-stakes first dates—coffee or drinks—over dinner or home gatherings—much easier exit if there’s no chemistry.

    “First date, coffee or drinks… you can kind of figure that out in 45 minutes to an hour.” (09:57)

  • Second or third date is when he likes to go fancy and dress up.

• Exiting a Bad Date:

  • Ashley admits he’s too much of a people pleaser to just bounce:

    "I'd have to just get through it… that feels rude." (10:32)

Upbringing and Values

• Religious Upbringing:

  • Raised Jehovah’s Witness—no holidays, no birthdays, always feeling like “the different kid.”

    "I didn't start celebrating holidays until I was, like, an adult… I was actually excommunicated from the church." (14:04)

  • Finds the silver lining in the adversity—built independence and “mental toughness.”

• Personal Growth:

  • Both Ashley and Lauren reflect on how their values and pickiness have shifted after COVID and with age—now seeking independence and shared career drive in partners.

Relationships on Reality TV

• Ashley’s relationships have often played out on TV (Making the Band, MTV reality show with his son’s mom).

• He’s “done” having relationships on TV—unless maybe “third time’s a charm,” jokes about Golden Bachelor in his future:

  “Maybe I just hold out for Golden Bachelor… gives me time to really prepare.” (23:15)

• Favorite Reality Show: Loves 90 Day Fiancé for the genuinely raw relationship drama.

International Romance & Language Barriers

• Lauren opens up about her “90 Day Fiancé”-style marriage to an Italian ex—married for a green card, learned each other’s languages, and lived in Italy for a year.
• Ashley is amazed by the commitment:

  “That’s commitment to try to learn someone else’s language.” (27:05)

Entrepreneurship, Supplements & Health

• Ashley’s passionate about his supplements company, High Level Science.
  • Focused on science-backed, doctor-formulated products.
  • Talks up new products for both men and women, including sexual wellness supplements.

    "A lot of what I talk about and what I live, eat, sleep, and breathe is a very health and wellness-driven lifestyle. But with that said, you gotta have a little dose of debauchery. But I like to earn it." (43:08)

  • Favorite cheat meal? “Italian. Lasagna. Pizza is a close second.” (43:24)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Catfishing:

  "People have DMed me and said, 'I was talking to you on this app,' and I'm like, 'That's not me.'" – Ashley (03:16)

• On Ex-Friend Red Flags:

  "I can't get behind this idea of being best friends with your exes… For me, if you're best friends with all your exes, that's a little bit of a red flag." – Ashley (16:32) "Leave that shit at the door." – Lauren (17:26)

• On Romance:

  "I do consider myself romantic… I love to sing and play guitar… when I fall in love it always turns into songwriting for me… to record a song and to give a person a song that lasts forever." – Ashley (47:55, 48:13)

• On Pizza & Supplements:

  “You have to have a dose of debauchery… I’m gonna go with Italian. Lasagna. Pizza is a close second.” – Ashley (43:24, 43:45)

• On Poop and Love:

  "Who doesn't like good sex versus good poop?" – Ashley (47:13)
  "Put them both together, boom. Orgasm combo." – Lauren (47:19)

• On Learning from Hard Stuff:

  “Everything in life leads you to where you’re at… even the obstacles and the challenges and the adversity.” – Ashley (15:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:59–03:34: Ashley on being single, post-breakup, launching his company
• 03:45–05:27: Dating apps, catfishing, and why Ashley sticks to real life
• 05:32–07:15: Meeting people at the gym, dating “IRL” as an adult
• 07:21–09:05: Boy band dating days, handling public relationships
• 09:21–11:07: Ideal first dates, awkward exits, dating etiquette
• 12:55–14:00: Chemistry, humor, and his “nerdy” past
• 14:04–15:27: Jehovah’s Witness upbringing, independence, and family
• 16:32–20:19: Red flags—exes as “best friends,” navigating boundaries
• 21:45–23:19: Relationships on reality TV, Golden Bachelor jokes
• 26:01–28:00: Lauren on marrying an Italian, language learning
• 35:54–36:57: Post-pandemic focus on business, shifting relationship priorities
• 43:08–44:39: Supplements, health rituals, “cheat meals,” and relationship compatibility
• 47:55–48:36: Ashley’s most romantic gesture—writing and recording a love song

Memorable Final Exchange

• Lauren:

  “If you gave me some sex supplements, some beef liver, and you sang me a song, my heart would just explode… that would be a wet dream.” (49:43)

• Ashley:

  “I got you covered… sex supplements, write you a song… great poop, man… that’s true love.” (49:44–50:17)

Where to Find Ashley Parker Angel

• [Instagram, TikTok, Facebook: Search name]
• Health and wellness company: livehighlevel.com

Takeaways

This episode is a lively, no-holds-barred deep dive into modern dating with someone who’s lived it in the public eye. Ashley and Lauren share genuine laughs and vulnerable truths, mixing relationship wisdom (and fails) with gym talk and poop jokes. Above all, it highlights the value of authenticity, the importance of boundaries, and the power of finding humor in the search for love.

Summary prepared for listeners who want the real conversation highlights and wisdom—minus all the product plugs and intros.