Reality singing competition shows have been all the rage for over 20 years. We’ve got the podcast for you if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like being in that machine. Ex Factors is hosted by The X Factor USA season two alums Carly Rose and Diamond White. The podcast taped at Mastermynd Media Studios in Hollywood promises an intimate peek behind the curtains of the singing show that went off the air in 2013. From their own experiences to those of special guests, including former singing competition contenders and artists who ventured solo from iconic groups, the podcast pledges an unfiltered exploration of creatives taking leaps of faith and making big pivots. We had the opportunity to chat with Carly Rose on all things Ex Factors.
JG: What inspired you and Diamond to start the Ex Factors podcast, and what can listeners expect from it?
Carly Rose: It really started from our friendship naturally progressing over the years. Every time that we were together, we’d find that certain things would come up and we’d banter about the show (X-Factor) and our experiences. We’d be out doing whatever and then Diamond & I would zone in on whatever we were talking about, then 5 minutes later, we’d look at each other and say that I feel like people would want to know that. I feel like there are certain people out there who would be interested in what we just said. It’s something fun for us to talk about, like reminiscing on old times. We talked about doing it for a bit and eventually decided to pull the trigger. Let’s do it.
JG: You two connected on X-Factor in 2012. Did you guys click right away? Was there any competition there between the two of you?
Carly Rose: No. There really wasn’t, honestly. There was never a time when we weren’t friends. I felt like the show environment, in terms of the contestants, was a pretty friendly and nurturing environment all around. Meeting One Direction back then for me was kind of a pinnacle. It couldn’t have gotten better than that for me at that time. That was definitely memorable.
JG: Reflecting on your time on The X Factor, what were some of the most memorable moments for you, both on and off-camera?
Carly Rose: There were so many. It was a crazy time. As a 13-year-old girl at the time, some of the craziest moments were meeting the celebrities who would come and sing on the show.
JG: Could you share a behind-the-scenes story from The X Factor that fans might not know about but would find fascinating?
Carly Rose: One thing that I’ll always remember is the feeling I’d get backstage about to perform on a live show. It was so terrifying. It was like an out-of-body experience where you’re not fully grasping that once the curtain goes up, you’re about to be performing for the world. It’s almost impossible to really grasp that when it’s happening.
We’d have our in-ears, the little headphone things that people wear when performing so they can hear the track in their ears. The producer that we worked with to make the track, we’d hear his voice programmed into the track. 1..2..3.. Counting us in, so we knew when to start. I just have that in my mind to this day. Being backstage and hearing those numbers was always quite a moment.
JG: The podcast promises to bring on special “ex” guests from various backgrounds, be it contestants from other singing competition shows or artists who have left groups for solo careers. How do you think their experiences will enrich the conversations you and Diamond have on the show?
Carly Rose: We never intended for the show to just be singing contestants. That’s a cool place to start and there’s definitely a lot to uncover in that world that’s not really spoken about that much. I don’t really know any other podcasts that really take this approach. We have someone from the boyband world ready to go and a couple of other people that we’re talking to from that realm to come on.
But really, the show is for anyone who’s made a name for themselves doing one thing and then pivoting to something else and what that leap is like. It’s just a part of life that we’re all evolving. Diamond and I are examples of that, too. We made a name for ourselves when we were 13 and now it’s been 11 years. Now we’re 24-25-year-old women and we’re not the 13-year-old girls that people knew us as. So we’re reestablishing ourselves, seeing what that’s like, where we are now. I think it’s such a universal concept of moving from one thing to the next. Getting different perspectives from people from different industries will make the show so much more interesting.
JG: You make a really great point. Pivoting is such a universal concept that everyone will be able to relate to it in some way.
Carly Rose: Whether it’s in a big way, like leaving a boy band that made you famous. Or just anyone in their life who wants to quit their job to follow their passion. Even if it’s just something smaller than that. I’m experiencing that on a daily basis. Making changes, deciding what’s best for me, what I want to try. I know a lot of my friends right now are experiencing that. For people from all different ages, it’s just something that’s part of the human experience.
JG: How has your perspective on your time on The X Factor evolved since the show ended, and how does that influence the way you approach discussions on the podcast?
Carly Rose: That’s a good question. I think there might have been a time when I somewhat resented it. In line with what I was just saying, I didn’t really know how to acknowledge it and show my appreciation for it without feeling like I was using it to stay relevant. I felt like whatever I did or put out online would be compared to how I was on X Factor, how I sang on the show, etc. That was always the thing people knew me from. For a while, I thought that wasn’t fair. I was 13. We all are doing stuff at 13 that we don’t want to be recognized for or remembered for 11 years later as an adult.
As time went on and I matured and grew into myself, I learned not to take it all so seriously. I think the podcast has really helped with that. That was the goal of the show since the beginning. For Diamond and I to have fun with it, make fun of ourselves, talk about so many of the crazy experiences that we had, and to come at it from a lighthearted loving way where it wasn’t like we were trying to relive our glory days. I think it’s been good because in a way it brought me closer to the experience, but it’s also allowed me to have some distance from it. It’s a thing I can talk about and acknowledge in a fun way and because of that I can then go and do everything else that I’m doing in my career now that I have this separate avenue that is pretty much only talking about that time.
JG: Speaking on taking on new avenues and pivoting, now you and Diamond are podcasters. Did you face any challenges jumping into the podcast space?
Carly Rose: Definitely. I think we’re still figuring it all out. It’s a new space for both of us. A lot of people like the idea of it and want to come on, but when it comes to nailing people down and scheduling – it’s a different story. That’s something that we’ve been juggling. And trying to figure out how to keep putting out content that’s engaging, but also making sure that we’re bringing on new people with new perspectives and how that all works behind the scenes.
In terms of Diamond and I, we’re rock solid. We just bounce off each other in every way. She has her strengths. I have mine. We balance each other, I’d say. That’s one thing I feel really good about. No matter what we’re facing externally with the show, Diamond and I know that this is our thing and we’re going to keep doing it. We’re both passionate about it and we both believe it. We have a very secure bond.
JG: With so much nostalgia and excitement surrounding The X Factor, that era, and the show’s alumni, how do you hope “Ex Factors” will contribute to the ongoing legacy of the show and its impact on pop culture?
Carly Rose: That’s interesting because it’s not happening in the US anymore. I think there’s no shortage of different talent and acts that have come out of the show. Willie Jones comes to mind, who we need to get on the show at some point. He was just on the new Beyonce album which is just so unbelievably insane. I just think it’s really cool to watch people’s journey and see how they evolve. At least for my season, I can look back and remember these people when we were all so young. To think of Willie then to him now, as just one example, it’s always so great. I think the show’s impact on pop culture and music is still growing and ever-changing.
Follow the Ex Factors podcast: YouTube, Instagram, Spotify
