bella bonus episode...SOUTHERN CHARM DEEP DIVE W/ JANA FIRESTONE

Join Amanda Bella (@bellatalkstv) and Jana Firestone of the Pop Therapy Podcast (@jana.firestone) as we analyze the latest season of Southern Charm, exploring the complex relationships, conflicts, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that drive the drama. Jana Firestone from Pop Therapy shares her insights on character development, production influence, and the emotional layers of the cast. Join us as we analyze the latest season of Southern Charm, exploring cast dynamics, relationships, and behind-the-scenes insights. This episode offers a deep dive into the show's drama, character motivations, and what to expect next season.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:02 The Nuances of Southern Charm Relationships
02:08 Cast Dynamics and Relationship Tensions
04:16 Craig's Breakup and Season Context
05:24 Reunion Highlights and Key Revelations
07:11 Labels, Hypocrisy, and Personal Growth
09:40 Character Arcs and Controversies
10:47 Introduction of New Cast and Season Highlights
14:08 Behind-the-Scenes Insights and Production Notes
14:36 Reunion Insights and Character Dynamics
19:10 Climactic Moments and Future Speculations
19:23 Future Predictions and Season 9 Expectations
23:37 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
24:22 The Power of Confession and Group Dynamics
29:03 Final Thoughts and Season Reflection
01:06:11 Ciao Bellas

PLEASE LEAVE JANA AT 5STAR REVIEW (and while you're there, I'd love a rating and review too - you guys dont know how much of a difference those make <3)

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hey Bellas, it's Amanda Bella here, and it is the morning of Friday, March 20th. I'm here meditating, getting ready to release this episode with Yana Firestone that you're about to listen to of Pop Therapy Podcast. You guys, Yana is truly such an inspirational and like, you know, when you think about your peers in this space, like she's just somebody that I that I look up to. She just has a very specific psychology lens that she approaches all of her content with. And she just has, I mean, not to go all Amanda Francis, but she just has like an informed opinion on a lot of things that I too, with my psychology background, we we find that we really align on. So I really enjoy my conversations with her. I had taken so many pages of notes for this Southern Charm podcast, but I know when I get into these deep conversations with having guests on, I really don't want it to be a digestible, easy, like background podcast. I don't know how to describe it. Like, I don't want us to just break down line for line like what happened in the show. I want us to be taking more of a deep dive on particular subjects. So I don't think we got through everything that happened in the reunion in this conversation, but I think you guys are really gonna enjoy it. And I think I'm gonna have to have her have to come on next week again to discuss part two of the reunion because I don't know if you guys noticed, and we talk about this in today's episode, that they did not release a teaser and a preview for part two of the reunion. So I'm freaking out. Sorry, guys, it's just in the morning here that I'm recording this. So, anyways, I want to make sure you guys all know you have Jana's information, okay? She used to have a podcast called The Curious Life. She's now changed it into pop therapy, so you should be able to search it on all of your podcast platforms. And she's just such a gem, and she's really hardworking, and she has such an authentic voice in this space. So it's really important that you guys just go follow Yana, rate her five stars, and leave her a review because it matters so much. Like we can't beg for reviews enough, and we can't seem to get them. Like, no one ever leaves me a review. And maybe it's because they just won't have anything nice to say, which in that case, I'm like, okay, thank you for not leaving a review. But it's just crazy. Like, we need reviews, you guys. We like even just the ratings will help. Like any type of activity on her page, go follow her on Instagram at Yana Firestone. So it's Yana J A N A dot Firestone. So that's her Instagram. And you can also find her link on her page there to her website, which has her book that she's published. I mean, I'm telling you guys, this is she's the real deal. So go follow Yana. I hope that you enjoy our conversation. And I I better get out of here and go get a hot tea. All right, love you guys. T G I F and believe me, I am getting ready and I'm gearing up to release my Bella Talks TV episode because there's obviously been so many major headlines. I I need a minute to digest. I'm not ready to talk about Taylor Frankie Paul yet. So just give me the weekend and I will have an episode for you guys, ASAP. All right, love you all. Have a wonderful weekend. Five, five, four, four, three, two, one. It's time to count down reality TV's most talked about moments with Amanda Bella. Yana Firestone, I've been waiting for you to come on to Bella Talks TV for weeks. Thank you so much for being here.

SPEAKER_00 3:32

Thank you so much for having me. This is such a thrill. We had so much fun together in LA not that long ago. So I'm so glad we get to sit down and get into our favorite things together.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

It really was a meant-to-be moment. Like my friend from Australia is gonna be in LA at the same time as me. Like while I've already just been in your DMs every day anyway, and like chatting it up with you, and I was just on your show. Yeah. So like it's crazy how much that timing was so meant to be to me. Like, I probably wouldn't have made the effort to come out and do so many fun things if I wouldn't have known like you were gonna be there. Like even with the watch what Krapens show. Like it was so meant to be to spend time with you. I was really grateful.

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Totally. I mean, we did some super fun things like the Vanderpump watch party and like meeting all the costs and then the the Watch What Krapens night. Like it was so much fun. Like the stars aligned. It was amazing.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

It did. It really did. Like being out there at the same time as the Vanderpump Rolls finale and getting to experience, like, like you said, meeting some of the staff, getting to have goat cheese balls fed to me by Jason. Yes, totally. And we were just talking before we got on just what it's like to be, you know, working in this Bravo sphere and being a part of this, the kind of the a cog in the machine of just what keeps all of this fandom going. And when we do get to fly a little close to the sun and like intermingle just a little bit, it's so fun. And I think we just did the perfect amount out there. You got to do some really special, awesome interviews. So I always put all of the show information for Yana in the show notes. So make sure everybody's following five stars. We always give five stars, you know, pop therapy to Yana. So again, all the information will be in there. But she is just, I just wanted to make sure I highlighted she's done some really great interviews, and we were just talking about being in LA. She was doing in-person interviews with real Bravo Labs people. Okay. She's the real deal. So I just feel blessed to have her here today. And we're gonna get into all of the Southern Charm stuff because there's not a lot of people online that are a kindred spirit, like Yana and I, who are able to see the nuance and able to see both sides of the feud, the heated rivalry that has now become Austin versus Craig. So there's just so much that happened this season. I can't believe it's been 11 seasons of these guys.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

No, neither. My dad just rang me a minute ago and he's like, What are you doing? I'm like, I'm about to do a podcast with my friend in New York. And he's like, What are you gonna talk about? I'm like, Southern charm. He's like, What do you know about Southern Charm? I'm like, Dad, it's a show. I've been watching it for 11 seasons. I know everything. Put some respect on my name. Like, I know Southern Charm.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Let me know it inside and out, sadly. I feel so parasocial, just with the Summer House crew. Again, I think it's different than Housewives. It's just they're closer to our age. We're just millennials going through life. You know, we're we're all kind of in that group of late 30s, early 40s, and we're all going through the seasons and changes of life. And you can see Southern Charm really going through that too this season. Seeing just kind of rolling in from last season, we are seeing Craig Newly single from his breakup with Pai, which has been the shockwave sent through the world. Like it has been over a year.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Important, important context. You know, he started the season coming off this and not just a heartbreak, but the complete loss of his future. He thought he was gonna marry this girl. She made it clear to the world she was never interested in marrying this guy. We knew as an audience, but he didn't. Like for him, that was it. And he thought he'd like found his person. And so that is really, really, really important context going into this season. I totally agree.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Like they picked up cameras real quick after the season ended last year. So we're we're ending the season with Austin and Craig going through this huge moment where they were in the Bahamas and Craig's kind of saying, I can't just go out and be single yet because I can't be drinking. I'm struggling with substance abuse. And, you know, I think we're just able to, again, maybe just have a little bit more of our cap on, or maybe of our psychology lens, our pop therapy lens, a little bit, that we're able to see, yeah, that there's this is just not black and white. Like the substance abuse alone, too, that Austin has the problem with is that he's not getting how Craig can just be drinking now all of a sudden. And even in the reunion, of course, we will get to the reunion. I just wanted to summarize first, but they're talking about how even Craig says it's been a year.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:11

And I think that it's just not linear for everybody. Again, that's another thing that we have to remember. Like expressing that you're struggling with your relationship with alcohol does not mean he didn't declare that he was going to be sober. He didn't start a program, he didn't go into a sober lifestyle and then like default on that. He didn't really make that kind of a promise to anybody. So everybody else was just holding him to these standards. So it's like we have him coming out of this breakup, we have him being vulnerable and explaining, like, yeah, I can't really handle my alcohol that well right now. And maybe I don't want to be doing that as much as I used to right now. And just that's all being rolled into a ball and then being brought into this new season. So there is a lot of context, like you said. Yeah. It's just not that simple to say he's an alcoholic and he's a fuckboy and he's a narcissist. Like these labels are crazy.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Crazy, especially because of who is giving him the labels. Like Austin, who I have always loved. Like, I know him in a weird way. Like, I've just always really enjoyed Austin. I've never had a problem with him. But to see him so focused on labeling Craig when Austin, like, I can smell the booze off him through the TV. Like that guy is the one standing over Craig, screaming and yelling and triggered and reacting. And I can understand, and I don't want to skip too far ahead. I can understand having a reaction to someone like that. They are like family. They've been together for 11 years through a roller coaster. They've had a business together, a podcast together. They've got, you know, they've probably been in plenty of Eiffel Towers together, let's be honest. But like, you know, the relationship has changed many times in recent years. And Austin just has not felt like he's understood any decision Craig has made. He wasn't happy when he was in a relationship with Paige. He felt left out. He wanted Craig out at the bars, he wanted him to spend time alone with him. And then he got what he wanted, and suddenly that's not good enough. And he's got every problem with him about going out to the bars and being single. The timelines of life have not aligned for them for a few years. But I just think, like, at what point do you look at yourself in the mirror and be like, man, like I'm screaming that this person's got a problem with alcohol? But like I haven't been sober in about 17 months. Like, you know, I just the judgment and yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:40

That's totally what it is. It's like, who are you guys to be holding me when we're yeah, it's just crazy. So I just had to like reiterate again what a tough place Craig already had coming into this season. He said, off of a fresh breakup that was not just some like fling, like you said, the loss of his future. He's struggling with his relationship with Austin because Austin's not understanding any of the choices he's making in his life. They're just not seeing eye to eye. And then on top of that, he's also got beef with Vanita. Yeah. And holding on to the grudge and qu carrying the torch basically for all of the Craig. She knows that she's gotta do that and she's gotta like hold that place. So then he's he's kind of he's just got a lot of hills that he's like up against coming into the season. And I feel like he actually came in feeling light. Yeah. Imagine like he had all of the things.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

In fact, he's the guy that needs to be convinced that you even, you know, that you actually have a crush on him before he'll even think about making a move. So it's not even like, you know, he's turned into this debaucherous, like embarrassing Lothario. You know? Yeah. It's just it none of his personality.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

No, no. It's so strange. Like they really try to make him to be something that he's not. Yeah. And it is definitely one of the craziest. It's it's it's giving me some shades of some other shows, but yeah, we'll get into that more. So at least then, okay. So now coming into the new season, we're like, okay, where does Craig stand good with? And he's good with Shep. Yep. You know, Shep's his boy still. They're hanging out. And now we're we see that there have been basically parties, or I don't know if these are like after parties that are going on in Craig's hot tub. Yeah. It sounds like they're in there quite a bit. Yeah. And I don't know if they're just all going like they're going out at night and then going there afterwards, or if they're starting at Craig's house and just all hanging out there all the time. But it sounded like there were like quite a few of these off-screen hot tub parties that happened in the time before the filming began. And so we see in this first season or the first episode of the season, they kind of open up and everyone's kind of talking about the hot tubs and talking about Craig being single again. And we see Sally's starting to talk about having aliens for him. So that's something that got introduced to us in the beginning of the season, a potential Sally and Craig, you know, flirtation relationship. But then we also have new people bringing being brought in, like Charlie and Whitner. So the season kind of did get scrambled up a little bit. I could see that they were like, okay, we got to bring some new people in. I liked that they kind of brought in like a potential love interest for Craig. Like I feel like they, I feel like the producers actually like they helped him out a lot this season.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

And I they even at the reunion, they were able to flash back and stuff like that. I feel like they were really trying to have Craig's back because I think they do see it was like a pylon. And I love that they brought Charlie in. Now it didn't end that well, but I did enjoy her on the season. I feel like she was a good addition. And I liked seeing him date her. And really, again, the biggest complaint it seems that Charlie had in the end was, of course, she didn't like the way that he acted when you know he screamed at Sally on the van, which again is like, oh my God, how many times these freaking spinner vans always come back to biceps? Seriously, it's always demonic. Yes. They're portals to hell and they should not be allowed in the spinner vans anymore. Yeah. But besides that, you know, there wasn't a ton of yelling this season. We really started getting into the first fights of the season when Whitner has his first party and he throws the literary party. Yes. And that's the first time we see that there's tension still between Austin and Craig. Like up until this point, we're kind of thinking like everything's kind of good. Austin's with Audrey still. Like they didn't, they didn't really, it didn't seem like they were starting the season off, like they were really in that bad of a place. But I think like we were saying earlier, the disconnect is really that they have not been on the same timelines together. Like they're always single, and then the other person's not single, and then the other person, it's and they're not able to like sync up and double date and like do all the things.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

And you know, like we heard like we heard at the reunion, they used to be, you know, the kings of King Street. And they would go and like terrorize and yeah, terrorize. And like, you know, they probably loved the fame, and the fame was even more of a, you know, an asset when they were together. And so the three of them or two, yeah. Yeah, would just like single man killing it on the main streets of Charleston.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

That's really what it is. It's like they're stronger together and they're like a band of brothers. And it really, they were like betrayed by Craig getting into a relationship. Yeah. Yeah. And they're still mad about it.

SPEAKER_00 15:43

Yeah. Everything kind of like fell away at that point. And, you know, I think also my kind of read on it was Craig sort of started to rise above the life that he'd had with those guys, which was single party lifestyle. And this happens to so many of us when we get in a relationship that our life evolves and we, you know, don't want to go out and party in the same way. And we've like obviously got different interests and priorities. And that seemed very clear. And suddenly he like is focused on this Martha Stewart kind of world that he's, you know, found himself in, and like his beautiful home, and like wanting a completely different life for himself. And there's nothing wrong with that. You know, in fact, it should be commended, but Austin wasn't there. And I feel like what was there is whether he's conscious of it or not, you know, it was almost probably a sense of Craig maybe feeling like he was better than Austin and that his life was moving in a better direction, and Austin was still in the same kind of lower place. And you know, maybe Craig, you know, said as much. But I feel like that's where the the disconnect started to happen and the resentment started to build because Austin was kind of a bit like, you know, who are you to act like your life is better than mine? But at the same time, wanting Craig to like come back down to his level, you know? So I feel like there was just that disconnect there.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

That's so true. I completely agree with all of that. I think that that's really the like nut that they're trying to crack with what's going on with them. And like if only they could communicate and even admit to each other. Yeah. Like I do wonder if Craig could say, hey, like, I can totally admit, which we they really say Craig's incapable of this, but I would like him to push back a little bit more and even with his behavior, like show them. And he did, they were able to again flash back to his apologies and prove, like he is able to apologize and he is able to notice when he's done something wrong. Like he's not he's not living in total Dululu land. Like he is somewhat self-aware. He is, he could be a little tad more.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

Yes, you know, you know, we've all improved.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

That's right. We're all a work in progress. That's right. That's right. And I just died. Like, yeah, I really loved like starting to, you know, starting to get into the reunion and kind of where they're at now. It seems like they're able to look back even at times during filming and kind of see, like, even till now, it's just not as intense as it was before. It was more just not as enough time had passed. It was like there were just still a lot of things going on. And I think one thing that they don't talk about because it would break the fourth wall too much, is the gigglers. Yes. The immense amount of noise and negativity that is coming from the fandom that I really think Austin was actually influenced by. And I think he started to be like, I want the women, I he wants to be one of the girls. Like he kind of does like being known as that personality. And I think that he just really saw that the world was seeing Craig a certain way, and he bought into it instead of like sticking up for his friend and having his friend's back and trying to convince the world that the no, you have it wrong. Yes, my guy, he makes mistakes, you know, but this is my dude. Like, that's what they really needed this season, and like we never got it.

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Yes, totally. It's like the you know, the Ariana Vanderpump season where the girls had an opportunity to band together and they went the opposite way and it ruined it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

It's a missed opportunity. And let this be a cautionary tale. You're bringing up such a good point. If they cannot get the conflict resolution figured out in this friend group, like it will be done.

SPEAKER_00 19:39

Yeah. Yeah. It will end. It's not, it's actually, I think another season of Austin and Craig in this place will not be fun to watch at all. And, you know, the peanut gallery, who are, you know, all of these new cast people who are just honestly like eye rolling and smirking and, you know, poking and piling on, you know, under kind of Austin's conscious or not direction. You know, they're like, they're loving that pylon. And uh that's just gonna be like I can't imagine anyone wanting to kind of come back and film like that. And it's just gonna be, you know, Craig having like side dinners with Shep or Whitney and the rest of them like bitching in a bar and being drunk and embarrassing and not seeing a problem with that. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

Ugh, what are we gonna do with these guys? Okay, we cannot let the show get cancelled or reboot. No, like we need them to get their shit together. So as if you're listening, you know, please listen to the next conversation we have regarding the reunion and what we think we can do. Now, one thing that really scared me is that they did not show a preview for the next part of the reunion. I know. Why not? So I guess I have two, I don't know. I've been speculating, I've been thinking about this since last night because it's like it ends, and you think you're gonna get the preview for next week. And then I'm like, how am I supposed to go to sleep now? Like I don't know what happens next week. And I think it's gonna be for a reason. Something must happen, either where there's some kind of an argument that they can't come back from, yeah, where it maybe shows some finality or maybe like again leaves us in a place of like, well, how the hell? Like, you know, they don't like to leave things in a place like that. Yeah. And my other speculation was like maybe they hug it out and they just didn't want to show us that because they want us to be doing what we're doing right now and driving ourselves crazy, trying to figure out what's gonna happen. Yeah. Because it's like that would be too like if they showed us that, we would almost be like, oh, well, we know they're gonna make up. Like, I don't know. And I'm still confused by their watch why happens live together because I was trying to decipher body language and answers to see who they weren't giving like they're in a great place.

SPEAKER_00 21:50

I know, but then they went out for dinner with Andy and John Mayer, didn't they? True. True. When John Mayer's involved, I mean, yeah, like, okay, all of a sudden they're friends again.

SPEAKER_01 21:59

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Think about Chase so much too. That's the thing. Yeah. Yeah. And I love the fame just as much. Of course I do. Yeah. I love it. Two sides of the same coin, Craig and Austin. Oh my gosh, these guys. Yeah. Okay. So we meet them at the reunion. Yeah. And Andy gets right into it. Like, yeah. I'm thinking because I'm laughing about how the way the finale ended. You know, they're at the Carolina Day party. We have Austin basically storming out of the party. We have Craig basically storming out, kind of being done with everything. We have all we have Sally chasting, chasing all down the street, basically.

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Oh my god, honestly. Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally. She really set like women back. Yeah. I mean, the reunion. Wow. Like there's so much to say about the Sally and Austin of the reunion. No.

SPEAKER_01 22:53

You could cut the tension in the room with a knife.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

And there's just something so different. I don't know what it is. Like, I just felt like they got right into it this year. Like, I don't know. Usually the first episode, and because it's only two parts, maybe I'm thinking they just were like, let's cut the flow right into it. Yeah. Maybe because it started so strongly. Like we have Whitner starting to pipe up. He's getting right into the mix right away. Yeah. Everybody seems like they're ready to kind of like lay it out on the table. Like Vanita says too. And I'm still mad at Vanita because we never got, she never approached Craig one time. Yep. The whole season ended last season and they never got to sit down a one-on-one.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

Yep. I know. And like it was the fight that that just like, you know, the one-sided beef that she had with him for so long, you know, like, mate, you are like she was taking up. It was just like we as an audience can see, like, she obviously is trying to be friends with the Summer House crew. And she obviously, I reckon she idolizes Paige. Paige is doing all the things that Vanita kind of wishes she was doing in fashion and you know, podcasting and all of that stuff. And yes, Vanita's an influencer, but she's nowhere near the level of Paige. And agreed. And Paige has kind of gone a bit mainstream now. And so I think she was just like all up Paige's ass, even though Paige didn't even seem to be aware of her. Like it was another one-sided affair. You know, so that was frustrating to watch to begin with. And then when it I'm sorry, but when he finally said, like, Venita, you don't even exist in my world, I was like, Yes! Like, tell her. She has just been like a little gnat in his face or around him to his friends for the entire season. And of course he's hearing about it. Of course he's catching wind of it all. I'm sure the producers are telling him. I'm sure everybody else is like, you know, this is what she's saying. You need to go and address it. And he's like, nah, I'm not gonna deal with it. And then finally she's having another go. Like, I think Austin needs to stand up for himself. Like, nobody need Austin doesn't need any help standing up. He, you know, needs to stand up less and sit down. You know? And so Craig, I feel like, was completely right. He's like, you have no idea what you're talking about, and you don't exist in my life. Was it mean? Yes. Did she deserve it? Yes. Yes. That is it.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

Is Craig a little mean? Yeah. Yeah. But you know what? There's a big difference between being like a little bit of an asshole and being like a full-blown narcissist. So I can't believe that that's the approach that they took coming into the reunion. Like, and I wonder too, housewives have always speculated about these like little meetings that go on before the reunion. And I'm wondering like, is this a group concerted effort for a Craig takedown? Yeah. Or is this really genuinely everyone's individual feelings? Like, I really don't know how everyone can feel this way about him.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

I'm gonna say something main now. But I actually think between Austin, Sally, and I'm sorry, but Charlie, I don't think they're very bright. Okay. And I just think they pick up on something and kind of like go along with it. I think Austin has genuine, complex, complicated feelings about Craig. Yes. That's fine. They've got 11 years of history. Well, not quite 11, you know, Austin came in a bit later. But they're they've been friends for a very, very long time. And as we said before, they've got a very complex history together. He has a right to kind of be reactive and have his own stories. Everyone else piling on, and what and I didn't like as well was Whitna, who I really enjoyed throughout the season, who was kind of a voice of reason and did seem to kind of have Craig's back. It was like reminiscent of Paige, the way she used to come in and summer house reunions. We wouldn't hear a peep from her. She's like unconscious in her bed on her phone the whole season. And then suddenly she comes into the reunion and she's sniping and angry and opinionated. It's like suddenly she's come to work, you know, and she's woken up to do something.

SPEAKER_01 27:02

Like it goes back to production, like you mentioned earlier. Like I do believe that production does play a big unseen part. And we know how many things were spoken about off camera.

SPEAKER_02 27:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

And even, you know, just little rumors and things all season, and just how they have to get them to address it on camera, then like, okay, you guys already basically talked about this and like thought about this, but like bring it up again, rehash it, and then like there's always something new that comes out about it.

SPEAKER_02 27:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 27:29

So I feel like there was so much juicy stuff in this reunion. Like I was glued to my team because it just, I don't know what it was. Like, I don't know if everyone just came so ready to be vulnerable or what, but like it just felt like everything everybody was saying had some weight to it.

SPEAKER_00 27:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

And it was, it just felt good. It did feel really raw. Yeah. So I mean, it didn't end in the best place, but no.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

Didn't didn't you find it interesting as well that Madison was throwing Austin under the bus so much with Sally? Like they're besties. Like they're like, she calls him his gay, her gay best friend. And she was like throwing him. Well, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:07

I think that this is like what they say, revenge is a dish best served cold.

SPEAKER_02 28:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:13

I think she has like been waiting. Like Austin embarrassed her and just totally like ruined. I mean, Madison's, I'm so glad that she was able to prevail. I know she is not everybody's favorite, but I do enjoy her.

SPEAKER_02 28:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:27

And I just think that she's able to see it from a bigger picture and not be so petty in the moment and wait and be a little more calculated. Yeah. And I actually felt that she even started the beginning of the season because I it's funny, I kind of wrote out like everyone's little storylines. And I had Madison's storyline for the season just being pregnant and messy when it comes to Audrey. So every time she had a chance to comment on how Austin as a boyfriend was she was like, that was like her moment. You could see her inside of her. That's it gets her. And I think the minute she sniffed out that there was something nefarious going on, yeah, she knew it's like she's getting triggered. She it's PTSD. Like Austin did the same thing to her and cheated on her and lied to her face. And probably said so many times there there was nothing going on when there was. And it's just there's something as a woman, you know, like you've gotta, when you are a true girl's girl, she is gonna actually stand up for Audrey.

SPEAKER_00 29:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:31

And not Austin. And that felt so good.

SPEAKER_00 29:33

But then, you know, I I completely agree with everything you just said. But then I feel like the flip side of that is she's apparently friends with Sally. So although she's being a girls' girl, she actually was not being a girl's girl to Sally in those moments with Audrey. So, and then, you know, like she also, while throwing Austin under the bus, she was humiliating Sally because she got him to basically say that, you know, he's never gonna date her. He has no interest in her. She's too much of a slut, basically, is what he was saying. The body count he said himself. Although the thing that was a bit talked over, what he did he said was it wasn't just a matter of the body count, but it was like the body count of people I know, you know, and I think that makes it slightly different again.

SPEAKER_01 30:20

Yep, you're right. It got talked over, and I in that moment too. And I it also helps going back and watching like the uncensored versions. Yeah because sometimes they're bleeping too, and you're like missing some other people's responses.

SPEAKER_00 30:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

So you're right. The bigger picture is that now Sally has knocked on the door of all three of Chef Austin and Craig.

SPEAKER_00 30:41

Yeah. And I think there's more. He was saying I uh heard Craig say somewhere that she'd hooked up with Corey at some point. So there's literally like everyone around. I mean, gross. You learn something new every day. I thought I knew every one of her hookups. No, I think Corey's the one I did not have on the list, but it makes perfect sense. They actually would make a great couple, they would be, they're both kind of dirty in the same way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

Like she has an interesting personality. Like, I love the juxtaposition of watching her and Charlie this season. And just, you know, they're representing two different kinds of girls. And yeah, it was just interesting. So, like, so they get into the reunion, you know, Andy goes through, he's he's introducing to everybody. I love when he goes around his little circle and just kind of like everybody amped up. And then I love how he asks Craig right away too, like, did you watch the season back? And Craig pulls a jacks and he's like, No, I lived it.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

It's such a shame because like there is a lot of so much that he needed to see about what everybody was saying, you know. I don't even think for his own behavior, because I I honestly don't think his behavior was out of pocket. I feel like it was absolutely reacting to long-term antagonizing from people. And like I think I think it would be helpful for him to hear what everyone else is saying. And Sally is not your friend, Craig. You know, she is absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

No, they they have a real, it's so funny in these reality TV friend groups. It's very reminiscent of Vanderpomp rules, the way that they're able to just throw each other under the bus, like for the good of the show.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Like they really at the end of the day do know that they're making a show. And even though they're not able to fully say that, I know Sally in the back of her head is thinking, like, I gave everybody so much to talk about. Like they, yeah, and even Craig too. Like, no, they all just bring so much to the table. And that's why it's such a good ensemble cast. And even with Whitney and all the because we talk about him piping up a little bit in the beginning. And again, it has to do with that page effect of like, now I this is my last chance to say something. I haven't had my contract renewed. So it is like a Hail Mary situation of like, okay, I do need to create as much of a buzz around myself in this last moment to make sure that I'm getting asked back, that I'm showing that I do care. Like it's really just showing that you make an effort instead of just sitting there the whole time, you know, which some people do. And that's again, yeah, it really pisses me off that Craig's not watching back this season because again, it's like that effort. Like it's the effort of taking like this the one note I have from otherwise he's my perfect king. I'm just like, damn it, you really he had a good chance there to watch it and come and have have at least the chance to say, I'm not proud of what I saw about myself, and I really I learned something. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:27

You could just bullshit that out. Totally. But no, it's totally sad that he didn't watch it.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

That kind of scared me a little bit, but he did say he was a hundred percent himself. And you know, okay, great. Like that's all we can ask of our reality TV stars is that at least they think they're being vulnerable, they think they're being their authentic selves. Yeah. So he gets an A for effort in that sense. But Whitner calls out right away that Craig announces he's trying to be more peaceful in this new yeah, you know, Craig's in this new place right now, and he's calling for peace in the Middle East and PDS in Southern Charm. And Whitner right away is like, well, I just don't think yelling is peaceful. And it's so it it's like it's very clear to me that okay, like that is the one thing they have on him. He gave him the ammo. He did yell in the sprinter van and broke down.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

He did, but you know, then I I like look at the last two episodes, you know. Austin was the one standing up, standing over Craig, screaming at him, telling him he's a psycho, he's an alcoholic, he's a, you know, you're a fucking problem, all of those things. And like Craig was literally sitting there, calm, quiet, not raising his voice, not changing his body language, nothing. So if we're going to hold Craig to this standard, we have to hold Austin to the same standard. And Austin has screamed at women. Shep has screamed at women. You know, unfortunately, like Taylor a fucking idiot.

SPEAKER_01 34:52

Yes. It's like the short-term memory problem of the fans. They can't think back to last season. Like, I always have to think of the seasons before to put myself in that place. That's why I get so mad when I find out people start watching and don't go back and watch previous seasons. Yes. And I'm like, what are you talking about? There are so many layers to these conversations. Like, if you were to just jump in season 11, you would definitely, yeah, you would believe everything being said about all of them because it's they're just really drilling at home.

SPEAKER_00 35:23

It's like, give our trying to kind of like give the the story that, you know, Craig is this really unhinged, dangerous person. And that, you know, he yelled at me in front of my mother. Like, well, what did you do, Sally? What did you do? Like, where did it come from? You are not even slightly a tiny bit innocent in any of this. Like, she's that person who pokes and pokes and pokes and pokes and then cries victim when you react, you know? Like, she has been instrumental in his like mental health decline this entire season. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 36:03

You know? She has. And in fact, actually, I take it back.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

Not this entire season, just after he rejected her. That's when it turned. Before that, she could not keep his mouth, his name out of her mouth from a like an obsessed way. Craig's hot tub. I was Craig. Craig, I've got all Craig's t-shirts. And I was at Craig's again last night, and Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig. And then he rejected her, and suddenly he's a problem. You know, it's just so it was so apparent.

SPEAKER_01 36:31

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I was really confused how other people weren't getting that. Yeah. They didn't really address that too much yet. Like, I feel like this first episode of the reunion was still kind of like going over everybody's kind of little intros and stuff. And we didn't get into like the meat of that conversation yet. But I'm interested in part two, what we can expect from getting a little bit more into Sally's feelings for Craig because they were real. And she, I think, saw herself taking the new page's place. Yep. Taking her place on the throne, bringing the jewels, putting the jewels on. Yeah. And it did not go that way. So it's just like it's so obvious to me that she's just bought her.

SPEAKER_00 37:13

It's outrageous. Like we cannot forget any of that. Like this.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

But then Andy goes around in a circle, of course, like he does. And he's asking everybody, like, well, well, why doesn't everybody want Whitner?

SPEAKER_00 37:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:26

And I thought this was so good. It's like finally to get to the bottom of it, too. And I just feel like Whitner is good casting for this reason because, like, I just think he is a perfect archetype of a certain southern guy and a certain just type of guy that's out there.

SPEAKER_02 37:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

And I'm just so glad Sally caught that and that he wasn't able to like get the good guy full edit of the season because they do usually kind of give everybody that nice guy edit or their, you know, the first season's always like the best season for everybody. Yeah. And it really is funny that like editing everything aside, we never would have suspected a thing. But little Miss Sally, our little chaos agent, could not keep her mouth shut. Yeah. And I watch what happens live. She did start the little spark that maybe Whitner is a little bit of, you know, not all that. Yeah. And even though he's getting pushed on everybody. And I just thought that that was like such a good, it's almost like the overall theme of the whole show since season one of just like how these men are like kind of awful.

SPEAKER_00 38:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:32

They're all doucheburgs. And they're all idols.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

Yes. Now they're famous. And that is not a great combination.

SPEAKER_01 38:41

When you come from these families that have these names and these like southern, you know, like they really put that on a pedestal down there. Even going back to with like Catherine Dennis and her coming from the bloodline, you know, it's like they really value that down there. And so you can tell Whitner has definitely got that like little thing on him. And it's just so nice to see the women be like, no, no, no, you're not coming on here and just pretending. Like you don't get to like act apart. Like we're this is reality TV, basically.

SPEAKER_00 39:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

And we're gonna show all sides of you.

SPEAKER_00 39:12

But I feel like that only happened. Like, if we had just gone, if we had only seen the show, we all probably would have thought, yeah, Witness like such a good guy. Like, yeah. Lovely family, you know, so nice. And then it's all the other stuff that's starting to come out. At first, when Sally said that stuff about him, I was like, shut the fuck up, Sally. I don't care what you have to say. I don't believe it's a it's a political thing. She's MAGA, he's not. Right. You know, so that's what I brushed it off as. And then the other bit started to come out, and and he showed himself to me at the reunion. I was like, what? Like what? What do you think about the Vanita spin? Like suddenly now she's interested in Whitna.

SPEAKER_01 39:56

Swear to God, I have that in my notes because like that's what I'm getting to next. Is like, okay, we all know the point, really, going back is like, okay, you're at the reunion, you're kind of this is your interview to get hired back. So like it's again wrapping up all of all, it's showing you again like why I deserve to be here. And I just feel like that was such a little seed planted. And looking back at JT, yeah, and now with the situation even with Craig, even though it was a different, it was still a weird relationship that he clung on to to make herself relevant.

SPEAKER_00 40:28

Yeah. And same with Sally. Sally was that for her as well, because Sally, you know, had inserted herself into the center of the group because she'd hooked up with all the guys and she's like leads with sex and sexuality. And so she just, and you know, we saw the way that Sally got sort of very possessive about the guys, and Shep called that out in Mexico because she like is very clear that that's like her place. She wants to be in the middle of all those guys and be the number one girl, and and Vanita was clinging to her. And I wonder if Vanita was the stepping stone for Sally, because Vanita was already there to get into the guys, and then she's kind of dropped Vanita because she made her way in because she's hooked up with Shep, and then she's all over Craig, and now she's hooking up with Austin. Like, wow, that's such a good point.

SPEAKER_01 41:16

I think you really found something there because I have wondered like how Sally got here so fast.

SPEAKER_00 41:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:24

Like we blinked, and all of a sudden she's like the center of the show. Yeah. And I do think that that is very questionable, even going back to her relationship with Madison and stuff. It's like I'm curious because we don't get to see the girls, you know, the show is so male focused. And like I love that actually. Like to me, Southern Charm is about the guys, and I think I love that about the show. I don't want it to be about the girls. I don't want to, you know, I just don't. We've got all the other shows for that. All the housewives, everything. Yes, exactly. So I appreciate, you know, the dynamics of the group and stuff, but you're right, there are so much politicking that goes on and staying, you know, in it. You just she seems to be good at planting the seeds. And then, you know, I hate to bring it up, but she is the only person of color on the cast. And that does seem to also be a big, I don't want to say a selling point for her, because, you know, I don't want to reduce her to that. I just want to acknowledge that it's important to have the representation of her on the show. And that, you know, I think that she's she's there for multiple purposes and she is a true friend in the group, but she just has not been able to have a real like footing. And I can't, I like her in the after show even a little bit more.

SPEAKER_00 42:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:44

She seems a little lighter and a little more, and I don't know if it's just editing or what that we're not seeing this other side of her that she is I just can't like her yet. No, and look, I have a she seems a little desperate.

SPEAKER_00 42:57

Yeah, and I I think I I wasn't really a fan of her. I met her at Bravo Con and I did one of those um, you know, things where you could go and hang out with them and you get a drink and everything. It was fun. But she was like, I was like, oh, it's Madison, yay, and Vanita. Oh, cool. And and but she was so much fun, like high energy, like not, I would never have known it was the same person. She was really tall, like she had some high heels on, but she was absolutely just like such amazing fun energy. And then I see her on the show, and it's like, who is this person? You know, this season, she was like reduced to this teenage girl. She's like thrilled with anything bad happening to Craig or being right. She's gloating and giggling and so immature in her delivery of everything. And, you know, even at the reunion, she's sitting there. Anytime anyone Craig's saying anything, she's like like making faces and eye roll. And like it's like herself. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:03

She really can't help herself. And another point, you know, that happened, and they get into this in this first part of the reunion, is the situation that happens where Vanita reveals that Molly had had her labia plasty. And it is so crazy the way they flash back. And like you said, she's giggling. She's actually excited. You see glee in her face to tell me. She felt excited. Like she had a bone, and it was like in her, she was so pumped to bring it to the group. And it's on camera. It's just so cringe. It's such poor taste. Yeah. And you can see again, it's that desperation. Like she needs a moment so bad.

SPEAKER_00 44:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

So she's like, okay, fuck, I'm only talking about Craig. Like this is okay. Now I have a little bit of something to get me in with some drama with the girls. And just the way that she brings up Sally and it or Molly's, you know, labiaplasty. And then we get in to find out that Molly actually is in a relationship with her 56-year-old band partner, I think. I believe he's somebody that you know produces music with her. Seems like everybody on the couches likes this guy and he seems great. But I'm curious like what the future will be for her, too. Like it seems like everybody kind of seals their next season things. Like Vanita's teasing, dating Whitner, and she made up and apologized with Sally too. Like, you know, you have to sit there with your tail between your legs and suck it up. And she did. She's like, fuck, I gotta take all the heat for this whole thing because if I'm gonna come back next season, like I gotta do it. And just like Craig alluded to that too, and he like storms out, he's like, fuck, I gotta sit there and just take this shit. Because they know, like, yeah, this is confrontation to my face. I have to be open to it, I have to be receptive. Yeah, and they're there to perform. Yeah, totally so much. Like, I like the way that they got into the way the girls fought this season, highlighted that.

SPEAKER_00 45:57

Yeah, and like it all comes down for me to like a need for attention, you know. Sally's like desperate for attention from all the boys, but also wants to be the most important person to everyone, everyone's her best friend, quote unquote. Right. You know, Vanita was my best friend, you know, Craig was my best friend, Austin's my best friend, Madison's my best friend. Like, you know, she has got to be the most important person at all times. And I think it's complete delusion. She's not the most important person, you know, and and the way that Austin like dragged her to think that she's still going on this like publicity tour as if they're really, you know, in something. And then he he crushed her again on Watch What Happens live, saying, you know, Sally's going on this media blitz saying like we're really hot and heavy, and it's not at all. You know, but she's sitting on the couch saying that like, you know, they go out and Austin like goes hooks up with other girls and she just kind of like has to be fine with it. And then he's basically saying, I'm never ever gonna date it, and date her. None of you are ever gonna bully me into dating her. It's we've not slept together. I don't think they've slept together. I reckon she's acting weird because she probably gave him a blowjob. That's you know, yes, like they said they did more than make out.

SPEAKER_01 47:17

But yeah, and I reckon they Madison calls him out too, and like you said, she gets really fired up. And I love when she comes for Austin. It's like some of my favorite little moments. Oh, she would throw a little like beta in, like, she just does like beta. Yes, totally. I would love for her to slip a little beta in, like just to get him again, like remind him of where we can be. Totally. Because he gets a little cocky thinking that him and Madison are best friends now, and she's like, let me remind you real quick. Like, yeah, don't get too comfortable here because she's a girl. She actually is a girl's girl. I can't believe it.

SPEAKER_00 47:48

Like, people want to give her a hard time, but Madison's a girl's girl, I think. She is, but you know what? Like what you said before about them coming into the reunion, like as a as an interview for their next season. I think that's kind of what she's doing a little bit too. Like it just dawned on me now. She's a baby, she's at home with her family. Like, what does she bring to the table? You know, we can't. That's such a good point, you know? So she's gotta come in here and and be she can't just like have cute lunches with Austin. Like, no, now we're like, oh, Madison.

SPEAKER_01 48:19

No, she, you're right. She showed an eagerness to still want to be there. Yeah. And when Andy asked her, like, you know, congrats on having the baby and everything, and she's like, Yeah, I want more, and he's like, right away, and she's like, No, I'm gonna have a hot girl summer, aka no, we're filming and I'm gonna be filming, and maybe when we're done. Yes, totally. So it's kind of good to see her want to be in the mix. She's important to the dynamic, and I do think that if things start to get really out of control with Austin next season, and he really is up on his high horse, like he is now, and she's trying to bring him back down because he really thinks that he is like the like he's got it all figured out.

SPEAKER_00 48:57

Yeah, yeah, totally. And that he's above it all. Yeah, completely. Like, I kind of exhausting where I've where I've ended up with Austin this season compared to where I came in. Because like I was so excited to see him at BravoCon. Like, I had a joking agreement with my partner. I was like, now if I find myself in a room with Austin and like there happens to be an opportunity for a like little make out, like what do you think? Bearing in mind, maybe your listeners don't know, I've been with my partner for 11 years. We have three children and a dog and a mortgage, and like this is like a real life thing, right? And he was like, Do you know what? I think it'd be a great story, go for it. And I was like, oh my god, like I really potentially have the whole pass for Austin. Now, oh my god, you couldn't pay me. You couldn't pay me to go for it.

SPEAKER_01 49:47

I know how fast they like fall from grace. Yeah, I know. I have a feel like that too that I'm so sad about that now that I'm just like, dang it. And it is sad, like I feel like there is redemption available for all of them.

SPEAKER_02 50:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:02

Like looking over it, you know, Shep had a pretty good edit this season. He got a little messy playing some telephone here and there, and he was doing a really good job at bringing the off-screen stuff on camera. So I see I saw Shep working this season. Totally. So, you know, he what he got a lot of heat with the Siena of it all last year. So I think pretty producers, of course. And I do believe production like does that. Like, I think that they are very aware of like who's taking a lot of heat, who needs a break, who needs more of an edit, who needs to, you know, like they're good at like rotating screen time kind of. Yeah. And like who's in the hot seat.

SPEAKER_00 50:39

Yeah. And if you think about like where Shep came from, if you want to talk about drinking again, like last season, he was getting blackout drunk in the Bahamas and sleeping like past out next to the pool. He had a terrible blackout situation at BravoCon before, the year before. Like he was serious. You know what I mean? That's problematic drinking. Like Shep came from uh that place, and and it felt like he was like, okay, I'm I'm older and wiser, I'm learning from my mistakes. He had empathy for Craig in a way that none of the others did. And, you know, he was like the the older brother that we kind of needed a little bit this season.

SPEAKER_01 51:20

Yeah, I really appreciated him playing that role. If he would have decided at any minute just to side with Austin, and it would have been just like curtains for Craig. Like he, I think Shup was like a saving grace for him. And Rodrigo, too, can have his moments where he kind of plays both sides of the fans. He does. He's another one that I'm contemplating like next season. Like, even Madison kind of admitting in the reunion that it was like her idea for Rodrigo to get engaged to Tyler. I'm like, oh, that was that so that he could film. What? Because I'm like, he literally had no other storyline this season besides getting engaged to Tyler. So if he didn't get engaged, he would have just been there randomly and not really having an anchor.

SPEAKER_00 52:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:05

So like these guys know they're smart. Like, yeah, we've been doing this for so long now. Like, we do know how these games work. And I do think that in the offseason, they're like, fuck, like they don't want new people to be brought in. Yeah. There's a chance that they'll lose their job.

SPEAKER_00 52:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:18

And they want to keep at the core group. So they're there. I can see them like doing some work in the offseason. Yeah. But these are our sports teams. I'm like before filming starts. So it's like they're gonna start filming. I mean, I imagine, I don't know, sometime in June or something, I think they usually do. It's usually hot. It is, they always look so sweaty, disgusting. Yeah. Yeah, I'm curious to see. So, like, we touched a little bit on how Austin is reflecting now on how Sally's came on so hot and heavy to him, and how you know they're finally getting around to getting his real feelings. And kind of it's interesting to me how everyone in the group really wants them to admit that they've had sex. Yeah. Like it's funny, I didn't think everyone cared so much, but I'm curious if it's because it's just it really grinds everyone's gears when you get to keep something off camera. Yes, totally. Everyone is just like, nope, nope. Everyone else has to talk about how we all slept with. Like, you have to admit it. I don't think they really even care that it's like Sally and Austin. I think that it's just the fact that they're trying to like keep a secret.

SPEAKER_00 53:24

Yeah. And everyone else is like, no. Or is it even worse than that? That it's like, you know, trying to expose that actually Austin is not that into her. It's a random hookup of convenience when, you know, probably they're out and she's all over him and he's got no other options. So he's like, yeah, all right, like, you know, fine. We can have a little make out. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 53:49

There's specific wording that he kept saying where he kept saying he's like, we ain't fucking. Yeah. He kept saying it very specifically like that. And I'm like, I think he's trying to say that because he's trying to say present tense. Like he's trying to be like, we're not fucking now. Yeah. As with a day ago, we have not been intimate. He's trying to like use semantics, and everyone's like, no, no, no. Like, okay, we still know that it has happened. So even if you guys are not in a place now, I don't know if you've had friends with benefits. And Andy finally calls it out, or Rodrigo says it. He's like, so you guys are just friends with benefits. Like, just call it what it is. You're not dating, you're not gonna date. You're not gonna have a relationship, but who knows how much.

SPEAKER_00 54:31

But Sally's Sally's got a completely different perspective. Like in her mind, she's just like waiting for him to be ready, and she's gonna be the perfect wife and girlfriend for him. Like, it is literally never, ever, ever, ever going to happen. He's he's basically spelled that out on television, and then again on Watch What Happens Live. Like, how much more humiliation can you take? Her only way out of this is to now go on a podcast and like you rise above, brush him, like fuck him, and then the women of the world, because this is how fickle the Bravo audience, like we we are, we will turn on a dime and and we it will be women supporting women. If she's like, I'm not gonna stand for this anymore. He said all of these things at the reunion, these are the things he says to me in private. This is the public humiliation he's made me endure I am done. People will have so much respect for her. That's it.

SPEAKER_01 55:28

We do like that's what we need. Sally, girl, please just gather yourself enough to gather this man up. Yeah, totally. Because he's not really that great. Like, I think it's so weird that even though this reunion has been filmed however many weeks ago, really how thick it was, she's saying that Austin has literally everything that she looks for in the man is her quote. He has everything I look for. The whole comment about how if it was Craig's body with Austin's personality. Yes. That's a good saying to me, actually, because yes, Craig's a good looking guy, but Austin's personality to me is so not what I look for in a person that I'm like, ah, like yeah, I would definitely take Craig's personality over Austin's personality any day, but that's just me. I know.

SPEAKER_00 56:14

I know. But I think she's just obsessed with whoever she's obsessed with, and she just says the same things about them all. Like Craig was everything for her, and now Austin is everything for her. And there's probably a hundred other guys in her past that were like the guy for her, all of the guys on Southern Hospitality that she's hooked up with, you know? No, seriously, so true.

SPEAKER_01 56:35

Like I could literally talk to you for four hours about this one thing. So I'm like, I'm like, I'm already like, oh my gosh, I have to wrap it up. But like there's so many things. Okay, we have to talk about Charlie a little bit because I have just been stunned at the revelation to find out that she is dating Justin from Southern Hospitality. And now they're talking about in the reunion, they're bringing it up. Like, okay, Sally was telling basically in the beginning when he started to show interest for her, like, don't go for her. She's talking to other guys. It sounds like, you know, now when I'm looking back, I the first picture I was able to find of Charlie and Justin together was in like October. Oh, so if they ended filming, you know, if they start in June, they end like September or something. When's King when's um Charleston Day or whatever it was? Yeah, when is Carolina Day? Oh my god. Carolina Day. I have to find out because you're right. Like Carolina Day was the last day of filming.

SPEAKER_00 57:30

And you know, it would make perfect sense why she was hiding it and so reluctant for people to know anything because she was talking to somebody else the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 57:39

Okay, yes. So wait, now I feel like I'm so off with my time. I'm so glad that we did this research because it says Carolina Day is actually June 28th.

SPEAKER_00 57:47

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 57:48

So they must have started filming even way earlier.

SPEAKER_00 57:52

Unless it's they're calling it Carolina Day. They're like, but it's actually filmed in August.

SPEAKER_01 57:57

No, you're so right. They're not expecting us to be doing investigative journalism on this calling out because they do do that.

SPEAKER_00 58:04

Yeah, like what's a really like southern event we could have for like the finale? Like, what are some the Carolina Day? That's a big one. Let's let's do that on August 6th. Exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 58:16

No, you're so right. Shoot. Okay, I need to know more. But basically, we find out at least, which is good, you know, at least for getting some of the timeline and like some of the information figured out. But just Charlie was in a relationship pretty quickly, it seems like. Yeah. You know, within a couple of months, weeks, whatever, after post-filming. Yeah. Um, and she's still dating him. So they're open now. And I'm wondering, again, another question for next season is are we gonna get Charlie back? Is she gonna be filming with Justin? Yeah. Is Charlie a good enough? Like, what do you think? Are she gonna come back?

SPEAKER_00 58:49

I thought she was a great addition to begin with. And then, like, she just her complete lack of spine started to just completely grate on me. I don't know what Sally has on her or why she's so afraid of Sally, but that became unbearable to watch. And the way that she would just kind of like, you know, sit there agape at everything with like, you know, her face like wide open to anything anyone was ever saying, and then not really have the courage to speak her mind. It it it made me feel so like stressed and tense for her. Because what we thought was that she liked Craig and she was enjoying spending time with him, but she couldn't really call Sally out for any of Sally's behavior. She was just kind of like trying to like keep the lid on things all the time, and it just felt like it was exhausting. And I by the end of it, I was like, you know what? Like, good, like please, Craig, move on with your life. Let's find someone else, you know. And it was just, yeah, the fact that she was running away from him the whole time and couldn't confront anything. Like, you know, it just I really I lost a lot of respect for her towards the end.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:01

Yeah, I agree. I she had a strong start. I really liked her. I enjoyed how she put up a little bit of some resistance in the beginning. Like she didn't just roll over the first time Sally asked her. She got into a little bit of a of an area of friction and was doing good there. Yeah. But and I actually would have even accepted the fact that she flipped her script so fast if she would have just communicated it.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:26

But unfortunately, you know, she should have had that reality TV aware, like, okay, shit. Like, I need to have you gotta have you take your moments where you can get them. Yeah. And she's literally running away from like the finale fight. So the entire production team is like, are you kidding me? We've given you a job all season, and now you're not even gonna break up with Craig on camera. So, I mean, they eventually did corner into a conversation, you know, and she appeased, but you can tell it was like late. Yeah, but they've been there for hours and they had them like trying to get her to sit down with him. Yeah, and they finally were like, Okay, like this is just gonna be the best that we can get.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:06

But yeah, Craig's gonna leave. You need to speak to him now. Like, okay, fine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:12

I mean, would you bring it up? Yeah, it wasn't like a strong ending. No, it was just weird the way it went into the reunion then. And obviously, the main thread is Austin and Craig and their fight and like the will they won't they of their situation. Yeah. So, you know, episode two is gonna be, I wish it was just three parts. I wish it was ten parts. Take a hundred. I literally would watch a whole season of just a reunion of these guys. Like, I'm loving it so much. I'm gonna miss them. Like, I always for the last few years I've been like, oh my god, like my hell is actually the time that Southern Charm and Summer House are airing at the same time. It's like I cannot take the fandom and it's just like overwhelming. But I'm gonna miss, I'm gonna miss it when it's over next week.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:59

I know, me too. And I guess like I have to say again, like we are defending Craig a lot, and you know, there are a lot of people that will be like, oh well, we um hate women, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:10

Or hate, like or we want to fuck Craig, and we wanna fuck him.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:13

That we're married women who have no interest in fucking Craig. Yes. Although maybe I could like move the whole pass over. No, no, not that I would, I genuinely wouldn't. Like, I I honestly am not uh in love with him. I'm not attracted to him in that way, like I'm not like enamored with him. I I truly feel like there has been an misj an injustice here, and and I think you can't look at all of this stuff without bringing your own things into it. And I think a lot of the people online who have a problem with Craig and are saying like he screams at women and he's dangerous and he's all of these things. I think I would challenge any of you out there to kind of reflect on what might have happened in your own life and what you might be projecting. Because if you just look at what's going on, nobody is innocent on this cast. Everyone, I mean, Shep was like revolting to a homeless person a couple of years ago. You know, like that's real and that's horrible, and we've all moved on, and nobody's calling him a danger to society. Austin has do you remember on Winter House and he screamed the fuck out of Amanda Batullah, like told her shut the fuck up, you know? He told Madison she's a crazy person and gaslit the f out of her when he was having a threesome with those girls. But that's like the tip of the iceberg. It's like every season we see him losing his mind at women, at men, at people on the show. So I think there are double standards, it's completely misconstrued. And I think Craig is no worse than anybody else on this show, and we just need to kind of keep that in mind.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:50

Yes, I agree. Those who are living in glass houses really should not be throwing stones. Somehow it's it's it's the again that self-awareness like film for them. Like they've gotta be able to like just take a step out of themselves for just a minute and look at the overall picture and look at the greater good of society, which is having this show on the air and being the the fun and interesting group of people that they can be, and just being watered down into these archetypes of reality TV characters, and there's just so much other negativity and abuse and gaslighting going on in the world. Like, I just don't think like Craig is our biggest dangerous society. Like, no, Craig isn't a dangerous person. Nobody has ever claimed one time ever of having any type of a situation with Craig aside from being having uh their voice hired, you know, yeah yelling. Yeah, he's never had any type of dangerous thing. And yeah, I'm interested to see, like, we end the reunion with Craig walking off the set and productions signaling like to cut because he starts to say, like, I don't even know if I'm coming back. Yeah. And so do we think that he's alluding to the next season, or do we think he's just talking about that break that he walks off? And do we think he's not coming back?

SPEAKER_00 1:05:10

Like, yeah, I don't know. I mean, look, he is prone to uh a little dramatic statement. So I wouldn't be surprised if he meant like, I don't even know if I'm gonna come back. Like, how can I keep filming this show with these people? They're all, you know, the pylon. Like the the best thing that will happen for this show is Sally to separate herself from Austin, and then there's and then Vanita, like, I think, you know, needs to get a real storyline. And then, you know, and I also feel like Molly needs to step it up because we'll see her say some really great things in her interviews, but then she flip flops in person. I don't think she's got the courage either to be really honest with her feelings. She she like says one thing about Sally and then another thing to her face, and is you know, we we need a little bit more from her. Too. And I think if people can all just be a little bit more authentic and show more of their actual lives, I feel like this show could go on, you know, forever. But I don't think Craig's going anywhere, you know. I don't think he is either.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:13

He he's really, even with all of this negative press, which has really gotta be what's getting underneath Austin's skin. Yes. And Shep, too, I bet, has got to be a little jealous, too, that even with all of this, like he's still at the top. Yeah. Like he still has such an army of people rooting for him. He's still, you know, gonna be invited to all of these events. He's gonna be like a center fixture still, as long as they're gonna have him, as long as he's like willing to come back. Totally. You can just see how close even Andy is with these guys. He cares about these guys so much. Like we were saying, they go to dinner off camera after the reunion. I think that if Craig tried to leave, Andy would, yeah, I would hope, do everything he could to keep him there. And maybe that's what he was doing behind the scenes. And just one last thing I have to say before I leave because we were talking about things before that we forget to bring up and then we'll look later. I was dying at the part in the reunion when Andy is, you know, pushing Austin to admit that what's going on with him and Sally. And he's like, I will not be bullied into dating Sally. And I'm like, that's a direct dig at Andy. Like, I think that he was getting mad at Andy because Andy loves to play matchmaker. He literally lives to play matchmaker, and he nothing makes him happier when two of his people date. Yeah. Like, you know, like that's he lives for that. I think it's because he's not in his own relationship. Like he gets joy from bringing other people together and like he knows it's good for the network, he knows it's good for all the things. Yeah. So I think that he was like really rooting for Sally in Austin, and like he's like, I will not date her. And I just thought that was so funny. Like, I know. What a good point to end on. I really enjoyed watching Sally get a little embarrassed watching just all of the dynamics of the group, and I'm sad to see it come to an end next week. But I know that you and I will be the first ones warming up our mics next season and talking about all the new things going on in their lives. So thank you so much. Absolutely. Oh my god, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:15

Be not here for having me. I love talking about this with you. And as you said, we could like talk for hours and hours and hours and so we may need to debrief again once the second reunion's.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:28

Yes, honestly, after the next reunion, I'm not putting that off the table. We might have to reconvene about the part two to this because again, it's really killing me that we don't have a preview. So I know yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:39

Sometimes Larry though from um Bravo by Gaze gets like the first seven minutes of things. And you know, I often see like the first seven minutes of like the next summer house episode. So like, hey, hang in his IG and maybe we'll get a little teaser. But I don't know. I don't know. Maybe they're just gonna keep us waiting. But they really are playing games of me.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:02

Playing games of my heart. Totally. Oh my gosh. Thank you again, Yana. Again, guys, everybody. All of the show information for Yana is gonna be in the show notes. I'm gonna have everything posted links, so make sure we go support pop therapy, five stars, give her an amazing review. She's really doing the Lord's work, and she's my friend. Yes, uh we're a team, so I appreciate you so much, Yana. Thanks for coming on, and we'll just be talking again soon. It sounds like God way. Thanks for having me. Thank you.