Hey BABs! I’m back with solo episode all about growth, healing, and the boundaries we set along the way.

This week's mental health check in honors World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th) and I get real with my close connection to the cause and the reality of the mental health challenges many of us face, plus how I created Bravo Therapy to break down stigmas and normalize these conversations.

This episode I dive into how leveling up means reevaluating the energy you keep around you, setting boundaries, and navigating the tricky balance between reacting and responding. These themes are hitting hard for me lately, and they’re also reflected in what’s happening in the Real Housewives of Orange County with Shannon and Tamra, the fallout between Lesa and Chanel on Real Housewives of Dubai, and the friendship combustions we saw on Season 8 of Selling Sunset.

Key Points:

• Mental Health Check-In: Honoring World Suicide Prevention Day and why it’s important to destigmatize these conversations.
• Energy Givers and Takers: How Mercury Retrograde brought this theme to light for me and how it applies to our relationships.
• Setting Boundaries: The importance of setting boundaries without becoming the villain, and reevaluating who deserves to stay in your circle.
• Bravo Reflections:
• RHOC: Shannon and Tamra’s toxic dynamic and what it shows about outgrowing friendships.
• RHODubai: The unraveling friendship between Chanel Ayan and Lesa Milan.
• Selling Sunset: The breakdown between Brie Tessi, Chrishell Stause, Emma Hernan, and Chelsea Lazkani.

References in this episode:

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Hey BABs! I’m back with an episode that’s all about the Bravo villains we love to hate—or maybe just secretly love. Joined by my Bravo Bestie, Michael Sheley, we’re digging into what makes a perfect reality TV villain, how Bravo and reality TV are breeding grounds for creating these baddies, and which Bravolebs have gone from bad apple to Bad Ass Bitch.

We’re also sharing our own villain eras because, let’s be honest, we all have one (or many). And let’s not forget, sometimes the real villain is the Bravo producer (like when they brought Alexis Bellino back to Real Housewives of Orange County to try to show Shannon Beador out the door--FAIL!). From Bravo’s biggest baddies to reformed villains, we’re covering it all and breaking down the psychology behind it. FYI, this episode was recorded during Mercury Retrograde, so we’re really leaning into that villain energy.

Key Points:

• Villain Eras: Michael and I share our own villain moments and what we learned from them (or didn’t) and how they still creep up sometimes
• The Ideal Reality TV Villain: Who’s genuinely bad, and who just got the short end of the edit? The real villains like Jax Taylor and Tom Sandoval versus the perceived villains like Kristen Doute and Kathryn Dennis.
• Bravo Villain Archetypes: We're matching your favorite Bravolebs to classic villain roles.
• Our Favorite Reformed Villains: Reality TV stars who’ve turned things around—like Jeff Lewis going from evil boss to self-aware mogul, and Stassi Schroeder’s transformation from “the devil” to mom, wife, and total BAB.

Takeaways:

• Villains are often seen as opposing forces to the hero or protagonist, but there’s more beneath the surface.
• Reality TV often rewards and encourages people to embrace the villain role, but breaking free from that label is possible.
• External perceptions and the inability to set boundaries can perpetuate the villain role, but growth and healing are achievable.

Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates, Bravo breakdowns, and more behind-the-scenes content.

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Hey BABs! This episode I’m joined by Alex Piscatelli, the amazing creator of the Grief in Media Project. Together, we dive deep into how grief shows up in reality TV, pop culture, and our own lives. We’re spilling all the realiTEA on how shows like Vanderpump Rules and Summer House portray grief, and why these raw, unfiltered moments matter so much. Alex shares her personal journey through grief, how it inspired her to start the Grief in Media Project, and why creating art has been a form of healing for her.

• Connecting through Grief: Alex and I talk about our personal experiences with loss and how that led us to create platforms focused on mental health and media.
• The Grief in Media Project: Alex shares how her own losses inspired her to create a podcast and media database that normalizes conversations about grief.
• Mental Health Check-In: We reflect on how grief affects our day-to-day lives, relationships, and even our reality TV binge sessions.
• Reality TV Spotlight: We dive into the portrayal of grief in Bravo shows, from Ariana's emotional journey on Vanderpump Rules to Carl's loss on Summer House—and why these moments hit so hard.

Alex Piscatelli is a writer and podcaster who discusses grief, pop culture and relationships. She’s the creator of GRIEF AND MEDIA PROJECT, a media database, newsletter and podcast looking at media through a grief lens, which you can find at griefandmedia.com. Follow Alex and Grief and Media Project on IG!

Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates, Bravo breakdowns, and more behind-the-scenes content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.