Taylor Taylor Taylor Show
Taylor’s got the charm of your funniest friend, the wisdom of someone who’s Googled it at 2 a.m., and the guts to spill the tea on her own life, embarrassing moments and all. Whether she’s interviewing intriguing guests, sharing industry secrets, promoting female rage, pop culture, or riffing on whatever’s trending, she’ll have you hooked faster than you can say “Taylor” (three times, obviously). It’s equal parts laugh therapy, real talk, and the kind of chaos you didn’t know you needed in your life.
Taylor Taylor Taylor Show
How Taste of Reality Became Bravo's Favorite Insider Source
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If you've ever found yourself deep in a Bravo Reddit thread at 2 a.m., refreshing Instagram for reality TV updates, or wondering who is actually behind some of the internet's biggest pop culture conversations, this episode is for you.
This week, I'm joined by Imani, co-owner of Taste of Reality, one of the most trusted names in reality television news, commentary, and Bravo coverage.
We dive into how a shared obsession with celebrity gossip, pop culture, and reality TV turned into full-fledged media careers. From sneaking Perez Hilton in school computer labs to building a platform followed by reality TV fans across the country, Imani shares the story behind Taste of Reality, what it's really like covering the Bravo universe, and why she's finally stepping out from behind the brand.
Of course, we also get into everything happening in the reality TV world right now, including Summer House, Amanda Batula, West Wilson, Ciara Miller, KJ Dillard, The Valley, Kristen Doute, Janet Caperna, Southern Hospitality, Sister Wives, and the Bravo personalities we've loved, questioned, and occasionally yelled at through our televisions.
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All content featured on the Taylor Taylor Taylor show is intended for entertainment purposes only. All stories discussed herein are based on alleged events and personal opinions. Nothing chairs should be taken as a fact or professional advice. Many viewpoints expressed are solely those of host and do not represent any business or organizations.
SPEAKER_02Hello, hello, hello, and welcome back to the Taylor Taylor Taylor Show, the show where we say things three times until they make sense. And today's guest, I have a feeling that we would have been an absolutely insufferable together in a group project. But instead, we both grew up and we turned our media obsessions into a full-time business. I get to talk to today, the co-owner of Taste of Reality, Amani. Welcome to the show. Hi, hi, hi. I'm so excited to have you here today. You are somewhat of an enigma online, you know. Like no one knows who you are, I feel like. It's kind of like Dumois. Okay. Like, we don't we know Taste of Reality, but like it's so cool getting to see the woman behind it.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, thank you. Well, first of all, I'm so excited to chat with you too, because you know, we are mute moots, I think is what they call it on social media. Um, so it's so nice to connect with you. But yeah, Ashley and I co-um run Taste of Reality, and we didn't found it, I guess is the correct term. Um, so I started getting involved with Taste of Reality when I was in college. So I was an intern and then sort of worked my way up. But Ashley and I have been making more of a concerted effort to show our faces a little bit more so people can see, like, oh, we're not bots or whatever. So I'm glad that you're kind of acknowledging that we're trying to put ourselves out there a little bit more now.
SPEAKER_02Amazing. Yeah, I went through and like followed you on Instagram, like your personal account, and when I found it, I was like, I am a cyber stalker and I'm so good at this. I was like, I love it.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god. I do the same thing, and I'm like, the second I become friends with someone, I'm like, okay, I'm gonna go to your Facebook, your Instagram, everything.
SPEAKER_02Yes, let's I need to know everything about you. And okay, so have you always been like this? Have you always been super clued into the internet, to pop culture, to reality TV?
SPEAKER_01100%. And it's funny because when you said we would be friends in school 100%, the people whose report cards said they're great, but a little too talkative. That was me. So yes, same exactly. So we totally would have been friends in school. So ever since I can remember, I've always just been obsessed with pop culture, reality TV. When I was younger, I was like, I want to be a writer, I want to live in LA, I want to live in New York, I live in Florida. But that's always been something that I've wanted to do. I've always, you know, lit up when it came to this world. And getting to make a career out of it is not lost on me. And it's just every day I pinch myself. I'm like, oh my gosh, I get to I get to do this. So it's so exciting, and I'm sure you feel the same way.
SPEAKER_02It's serendipitous the way things work out. And I think when I was in high school, we had a firewall at our at our school, and like, so we couldn't get on certain websites, only like Google and like academic sources. And I realized that Perez Hilton was on like the only thing that wasn't blocked. Because what child is looking at Perez Hilton? And I'm like, no, I need to know everything, what happened on the hills. Yes, like oh my, I need to know it all. So I need to ask you okay, who was your very first obsession?
SPEAKER_01Probably Justin Bieber. I love it! If I can if I can think, probably like the first time I like, if I can remember fangirling, it w okay, I lied. The first person I was obsessed with was Raven Simone. Yes, yeah, I was a huge that's so Raven girl. I loved Raven Simone, but after that, probably Justin Bieber, that was the first time I like put on my fangirl hat. And I still have it on to be clear.
SPEAKER_02Oh, no, same. I love the fact that Coachella was just him playing old clips. Like we were all just hanging out with him, and I watched it like via a TikTok live stream, and I was still like, oh my god, I feel like I'm there.
SPEAKER_01No, I know we do. Who was like, what was the first reality show you watched or like person you remember loving?
SPEAKER_02I remember I would stay up, and this was super late for me at like age 11 and 12 to 11 p.m. And I would watch Chelsea lately. Oh my gosh. Yes, yes. And I love I loved everything about it from Chewy to the fact that she would just have on these comedians and eviscerate them with her words every single time. Like, so good. In the soup with Joel McHale. I just was talking about this the other day. Where's Joel McHale? Where is he? We need him back in our lives at this like pertinent time in society and the world.
SPEAKER_01I know. I'm like, now more than never, we need the old school like E army. I mean, Rip Joan Rivers, but also like she was a fixture too, and just like so strict. You know, I'm curious if that would even work in today's time.
SPEAKER_02I feel like it would be very different. It would have to be like HBO or you know, online only, like a YouTube exclusive of sorts.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm just like, oh my gosh, today's society would never think literally. Joan Rivers lashings would never.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. R.I.P. love her. I used to work for QVC and at QBC uh Melissa would do some work there. And the way she held herself, and I mean this as like the utmost confidence, uh utmost comp yeah compliment, she walked into every room like she was the biggest bitch on the block. Oh my gosh. And I loved it. I was like, yes!
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, that might was okay, was Lisa Rennan QVC or HSN?
SPEAKER_02She oh QVC and HSN owned by the same people. Okay. So yes, but I never got to meet Lisa. Okay. I'm such a fan though.
SPEAKER_01I'm just such a fan. So my mom, like my grandma, they love like QVC, HSN. And I would be lying if I said I didn't have some Lisa Rennes fashion cards. Yeah. Yeah. She also had charade uh joggers and I had a pair.
SPEAKER_02Love, love, love. And they're still probably at my parents' house, actually. Now that you're mentioning it, I'm like, I have to go grab them. Yeah. So let's talk reality TV. Let's talk Summer House. Okay. My favorite topic. My favorite topic too. I my opinions on Summerhouse are very clear. I've been very vocal. I jump on my soapbox that I'm not co-siding on the hating on Amanda. But I understand why people are feeling this way. So without like the mental health stigmas and everything around what's going on, how do you feel about Scamanda?
SPEAKER_01So I feel like it's fun until it's not. Speaking to the mental health of it all, I'm very boldly, passionately, unapologetically, like Team Sierra, obviously letting that on the table first. But the only okay, so I was talking to I don't remember who I was talking to you, but um during part two was the first time that like I felt a little bad. And by that I mean just like on a human level, it's hard to see because like the thing that got me was when Sierra said what she said, which was what she said, and I agree with it. Um, when Amanda was like looking up, holding back tears, that was the only time that I was like, oh, okay, like that it's it's hard. Though I agree with what Amanda said, and I think Dara said it as well. But Amanda, I think received it a little better when Dara said it because there wasn't that like investment, probably. But like that was the first time that I was like, dang, like that kind of sucks. And then when everyone was huddled and West was sitting by himself on the other couch, I'm like, oh my gosh. I know, you know what I mean? Like, just as a human, I'm like, to be Kristen Dottie, I'm an empath. So I'm just like, oh my gosh, like that's hard to watch. But like you guys got yourselves to this point. So then I check myself and I'm like, okay.
SPEAKER_02I needed to check myself too because I think sometimes I forget that at the end of the day, these are people that are on television, they are paid to be on TV. Correct. And I'm not in that atmosphere. And yes, I've interviewed some of them, I've been to a couple parties and such, but it's not the same as doing it over and over, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.
SPEAKER_01I know. And the reason why I'm kind of like easing up my empath meter a little bit on Amanda too is because I feel like now she's leaning into it and kind of antagonizing it. Did you see what Katie DeLuca posted on her stories yesterday? With the half bun? Yes. You can't tell if Amanda, obviously, her mental health is always a topic, and I think it should be in the conversation. But if I'm really down bad, my friends not mocking the situation on Instagram stories, like you know they were laughing about it. 1000%.
SPEAKER_02Also, not to, again, I we're giving the pre-hood that I'm like, okay, like no mental health, like, yeah. But if I were in that awful state of feeling terrible and like my actions impacted so many people, I, regardless of whether her and West are soulmates, say they are. Right. Okay, whatever. Their soulmates are gonna get married, have five children, and live happily ever after in the middle of New Jersey. What I think I wouldn't do is go to a wedding and be able to put on. I understand she's put on a face for 10 years. Right. Sure. Amazing. Exactly. But I feel like there's such a weird line of like, you're either doing this because you're having fun and you're genuinely okay, which is okay. Oh mess.
SPEAKER_01And exactly. And exactly. Well, we all said that. We were like, to make this worth it, you guys better be in it and like be happy and be excited. But that's not what we're seeing, though. So it's like, I think Wes is stuck. I think he's like, oh crap. Like, now I have to commit to the bit, like for real. And I think that is scary because like at his core, Sierra said it, Dara said it. They're like, Wes is a great, is a great guy until he's in a relationship with you. And then it's like that's it.
SPEAKER_02And every girl knows one guy like that, at least one guy like that. He's the best, he's your best friend. You would never recommend your best friend to date him.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, hundred. And I'm not gonna lie, like prior to all of this happened, I had West goggles on. Like, oh same. He's kind of I don't want to say he's my type necessarily, but like I could see why girls fall victim to him. Victim's a strong word, perhaps, but I could see why it works because I was like, wait, yeah, 100%. When he was like, Oh, the tell when Wes likes girls is when he sits on them, that would work on me. I'd be like, oh my god, he's sitting off like on me. Literally. When when they said that, I was like, Oh, that's so charming.
SPEAKER_02No, so charming.
SPEAKER_01And I'm like, that's actually yes. But then I'm like, but wait, no, what was that? Because I hope that's addressed at the reunion, though, because like there were a few episodes where it seemed like Wes genuinely liked Sierra, but then when we step back and zoom out, and it's like, well, was he doing that because he was doing that to make Amanda jealous? Like, now I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Everything is so murky, and I don't know if we'll ever get to the bottom of like when it started, when they first hooked up, etc. Something I do want to talk about about Summer House that's not the Scamanda of all, is my favorite new cast member, KJ. What are your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01I love KJ. KJ, I just want I know I'm a stranger to him and it's very parasocial like. Um, I wanna hug him. First of all, he reminds me of a younger brother, so like I have like that connection to him anyway. Again, parasocial. But I think he's doing such a great job, and I think it's important to our broader point about mental health. I think he's doing a great job, and then also acknowledging that he is a black man and there's stigma surrounding that as well. So I think that it's just another representation of black men on TV because a lot of the times mainstream media shows a different version, like a more like hardcore, shall we say. I think KJ is a really great representation of a different type. You know, not the stereotypical. And I think it's great that he's voicing his mental health journey.
SPEAKER_02A thousand percent. He gives me Emerald vibes, but in the best way of Emerald was not really shown on the season. Right. Like he was kind of just made out to be like a womanizer of sorts, and like we didn't really get to talk to him. I got to be friends with Imroll post-Summer House, and he had expressed all of this information about his charities, his family back home, and the like mental health advocate, an advocate just for people in general. And KJ gives me that too, but like we're getting to see it on the screen, which is so special. How do we feel about the alleged breakup between him and Dara?
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh. So I listened to Carl's podcast. I didn't watch the whole thing, but I listened to a clip of it, and it that does make sense. Like they say you can't love someone until you love yourself. And I think Dara, I think it was the right call, though it doesn't make it any easier. I understand why it happened, and I think maybe if they're meant to be, they'll come back because even Dara said on the reunion, this is the best relationship I've ever been in. Yeah. And so hearing bad and then knowing what we know, I'm like, dang, like I can't imagine how hard that is to make that tough decision to break up with your partner when they're literally going through it and they need you. But it's like, but also me being here might not help you, so it's hard. I it's hard. And Dara's so stunning. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02I know the fact that she just like came out of nowhere, kind of in the middle of the season, and now she's a star. I'm like, give us more. Give us more. Speaking of star, I really like Levi too. Okay, I'm obsessed with her.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm like, yeah, I follow her on socials and she's so fun.
SPEAKER_02She's so much fun. I got to do an interview with her, right? The week that the news broke about. And you know, as an interviewer, as someone in entertainment, you always like you don't quite know where people are because you see them on screen, but you're not sure in real life. And I led into the interview with, okay, I'm gonna ask you something that everyone's like talking about. Her face was white Amani. Like she was like white knuckling the and I was like, I just want to know if Carl's a mess. And she was so cool afterwards, she was like, babe, that was so much fun. Like, she's invited me out since then. She's her and Bailey are real life friends, and like you can just tell.
SPEAKER_01I love it. I love them as a duo. I think it's cute. She's leaning into Bailey's imaginary friend of it all. I I just think they're really fun, and I I just love girlfriends. Like, I I love friends, like, ugh, it's it's my favorite.
SPEAKER_02No, I'm the same way. Like, I'm obsessed with just like having a group of people and being able to just like cheer them on, and I feel like they're the new hand-on page of Summer House.
SPEAKER_01And that's why I was so mad at Amanda, and it's like, okay, let's take West out of this whole thing, okay? Like, even on In the City, I don't know if you've watched the most recent episode. I have. Okay. So when Amanda was sitting there with West and Sierra, and she's like, This is what I wanted, like my trio. And it's like, but why would you? And she's grabbing their hands. Yes, it just infuriates me because I'm like, Amanda, you had it. You had it for a few moments, but you had it. Why would you why would you blow everything up? And I think Mia said it too. She's like, Their ecosystem of the house, you completely ruined it. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02Speaking of Mia, I want to love something as much as Mia loves a feather. The way that she wears a feather and she looks so fucking chic every time.
SPEAKER_01I would never look like that. Oh my gosh. No, I'm like, Mia is my inspo.
SPEAKER_02She's my fashion inspo, she's my friendship inspo, my confidence inspo.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I just want. Have you seen Aquamarine, that movie with Sarah Paxton? Um, yes. Okay. So in one ear, Starfish, I want Mia, and in the other, Dara, and just like in Lindsay Hubbard. I have four piercings, so it'll work. It'll work fine. Yeah. Just like give me affirmations throughout the day. Like, you are that bitch. Like, yes, thank you.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Did it heal something in you when you saw Carl meeting Lindsay's baby?
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, yes.
SPEAKER_02I needed that. I needed that too. I'm really the person having seen it.
SPEAKER_01It's so funny because like I do feel like it's like, okay, mom and dad are okay. I know. And it's like, uh, child children of divorce. And Gemma's so stinking cute too. I love for her facials on in the city.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. She was like not having Amanda in the first episode either. Which I thought was so funny. She's like, I know, I know, I can see you.
SPEAKER_01A hundred percent. She's like, I see you. I don't know. I'm like, get her on the pod, actually. Gemma. I think she would give us sound bites.
SPEAKER_02I think she would. She would be she would spell all the tea, actually. Love her. Lindsay's raising her right. Are we watching The Valley? We are watching The Valley. What are your thoughts? I absolutely despise Danny. Like, I despise him. Everything about him I despise. And I love Chris. Kristen Dodie can do no wrong. From the second she walked into Tom Sandoval's apartment in that beautiful dress to get the mail. I said, I love you. No, you're my girl. She understands the assignment, as they say. She does. She understands the assignment. Right now I'm feeling I don't like Danny. I've been like back and forth on Nia because I feel like she was been very complacent in seasons prior, but I do like her as a character. And I like Janet. I can't help it.
SPEAKER_01I like Janet. I like Janet too. I think that she definitely was ahead of her time. I am curious from last, I think it was season one, whenever, whenever Jax was like, oh, we're wanna, we're gonna take down the Bugos. Like, I'm it's just I don't know. I don't I feel like I'm working through my thoughts in real time about this. I don't know. I also don't love Britney as much. I feel like Jax was a shield for Britney for the Bugos and all of that. And now that he's gone, I'm I'm very curious to know what it would be like if he was still on. Like, would we even acknowledge Danny still of it all? Because we didn't when Jax was here, and that's why Janet was so hated because she was. I think Janet was a little hyperbolic in the way that she was speaking. I think that was an issue. But what she was saying was right.
SPEAKER_02A thousand percent. She wasn't wrong. And I think we look back and we know that Janet is friends with Sheena. Like Janet and Sheena have been friends for ages at this point. This all makes sense because Sheena's the same way, but coated in cotton candy and flowers and like sparkles. And Janet's just, this is who I am. I'm going to tell you what's up.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and unfortunately for Janet, is we haven't had all the history like we've had with Sheena on Pump Rolls. So she, I don't want to say she gets a pass, but like we we've we know Sheena. And Janet, this was her first, you know, welcoming into onto Bravo. So people aren't as forgiving, I feel like, lately. So you know, so yeah, she went really hard. And then also Nia and Danny were the golden couple.
SPEAKER_02They were. They were they give uh they give very trad to me. And yes, it's it's a lot like to handle on my screen. Sometimes I do feel like I'm watching the secret lives of Mormon Wives, and I have to remember that this is Nia and Danny from the Valley.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and you know, I I'm not super religious anymore, but I did grow up in the church, and Nia and Danny are so familiar to me. Like, I I the archetype of like youth group and all of that, and I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying like I I know this couple, like I know who they are, and they're gonna present very like everything's perfect, and then behind closed doors, you know Nia is like she's on his neck. All she's trying to do is eat a sandwich. My god, yeah. No, Danny uh may that never refine me, but if if it works for Nia's family, then I she likes it. I love it, I guess. But yeah, no, never, never four under four, five under five.
SPEAKER_02Oh my god. I've never been to Santa Clarita or Santa Clarita. I've never been. I don't want to go. Just because of this, I don't want to go.
SPEAKER_01I know tourism board is probably not thrilled. Did you ever watch Santa Clarita Diet with Drew Barrymore? And oh my god, yes! Oh my god, that's all I think about when I hear Santa Clarita about that.
SPEAKER_02Oh my god. Now that's gonna be exactly how my brain is locked. That's so funny.
SPEAKER_01You know, that's all I think about, and I'm like, I wonder if anyone watches Santa Clarita Diet. It's pretty old now, but still. Now I'm gonna go back and do a rewatch. I have to after that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but it was a good show, and it left on a cliffhanger. Oh my god, I don't even remember how it ended. Okay, now I'm going back. I'm gonna go back. Gotta watch it. I will text you after. No, a hundred. Um, if you had to pick, and I know this is hard, this is gonna be a super hard one, but if you had to pick, we'll give two. Okay. Two Bravo besties that you get to keep for the rest of your life. Who are your two Bravo besties?
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh. That's such a good question. Oh my gosh. Okay. Um top of mind, I'll say Mia because I actually really feel like we would be friends in real life. Um, so I'll say Mia, and I feel like I should say someone from a housewives franchise. I'm just gonna say Kyle Richards for this for the sense of access. Yes, I love that.
SPEAKER_02No, I brilliant, brilliant. She's a woman in stem, a woman in the arts.
SPEAKER_01So we love this. And I would love to be friends with her daughters, you know. So I feel like I'll just say Kyle, because like for the access, what about you?
SPEAKER_02I think Stasi Schroeder, oh my gosh, on my list. I know. I'm stealing. I know. Yes, please, please, we can share. We can totally share. And then who else would I have? I feel like maybe Carl.
unknownCarl.
SPEAKER_02Maybe I do Carl. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01He's a mess, but he's okay. That's a good one. And I also would like to hang out with some of the um folks over on Southern Hospitality because they're really fun. Okay, Maddie Reese.
SPEAKER_02Let me just say, I'm obsessed with her. She can do no wrong. I mean, she has done wrong, please. But like I just can't. And also, let's talk about Southern hospitality just for like a hot second. Um, why am I blanking on her name? Okay, give her me some. I might be able to. Um uh Lane, sorry, Lane. Lake, is that her name? Lake, sorry. I'm like Lane. Lake. No, you're fine. You're it's Friday. It's Friday. Lake, one, obsessed with her. Two, obsessed with the fact that this season, even on the phone with her mom, her mom's like, bitch, stop talking to people. I'm saying stuff. Yeah. No, I was her mom. I was like, wait, type, type note, type note. I felt with that said, I talk for a living. I get it. I know what like what she's feeling. Yeah. I feel like she's getting so much heat this season for just being herself. And aren't we all like pushing her from last season? Like, be yourself, find a voice. And how we hate her?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. You you kind of clocked it. Because a lot of things like with Bravo, I feel like fans speak out of both sides of their mouths. They're like, oh my gosh, you're self-producing. Be yourself. Don't do what you think the audience wants. And then when they act like how they really would, it's like, well, why would you do that? So I agree.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I'm a big fan of hers. What about Joe Bradley? How do you feel about him?
SPEAKER_01You know what? Someone said that Joe Bradley is like a golden retriever in a human's body. And ever since then, I'm like, yeah, no, I don't think he's a like a real person. I think he is like ever since that I did get a chance to meet him. Ashley and I went to Charleston, was it last May? Might maybe. And so we went to Republic because you have you have to. You have to, yeah. So we saw Joe. I didn't get a chance to talk to him because he was super busy, but he was there. Um, kept um spoke longer with Emmy. Um girl. Pre-season. She was talking about her engagement to Will and she was perfectly fine. Um, you know, whatever. And then Lake was there, but I don't think I spoke to her. And then I think maybe that was it. I think that's all who we saw. But everyone was friendly, as you know, it's nightlife, so I feel like you have to be.
SPEAKER_02You have to be. And I really liked Emmy like prior to this season. I did too. Despise her, if that like makes sense. I despised Will. Like, girl, that man's been cheating on you.
SPEAKER_01Like, not only that, but like he's pulling a Wes in the sense of he's coaching Emmy in the way that West is coaching Amanda. And I think Emmy is so ostracized. I think Emmy lives a double life when she's with this group, and then when she's with Will, she caters to him. And so I think a lot of Emmy's problems are because of Will. I agree with that.
SPEAKER_02And I feel like they definitely, if it weren't for Will, it would be a television wedding version. Oh my gosh, a million percent. Emmy totally would have it filmed. Oh my god, yes. Uh okay, so if we're thinking best, you said you got to hang out in Charleston, go to Republic, which is so much fun. I've actually yet to be. Like, I haven't been yet, so I have to go. I feel like you would love it. I feel like I would too, and I'm not like that far, like New York, Philadelphia, like we're close. We take a drink. Um best Bravo celeb that you've gotten to meet. Okay. And worst. Okay. Best.
SPEAKER_01I'm trying to think who's my best interaction. I've only really ever met people in context of Bravo Con.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01I'm pretty sure. Unless I mean, so I've met some of the Southern Charm people. Oh no, not Southern Charm, Summerhouse. I always do that. Like I mix the show. Me too. It's so easy. Yeah. So I've been around Summerhouse people, but again, it was in context to the show. So everyone was always really nice. Carl, you know what? Carl was really sweet. And he, when I met him, it wasn't in context to like, oh, I I run Taste of Reality. It wasn't that. It was just like me meeting him. And so he was really kind. Like he remembered, like he's just really good at putting, you know what's always really nice? When you meet someone, and then let's say you see them like 20 minutes later, they're like, oh, you said X, Y, and Z. Like, I really love that. So Carl was like that. So Carl was very sweet. Um, and worst, you know who wasn't very kind? And I I didn't talk to her, but saw her afar from Emily Simpson from OC. Oh. It was during Bravo Con. Really? It was during BravoCon too. She wasn't nasty. I didn't even speak to her, but like she knew like people, fans were around, and so she was just very like having her back to everybody. It was at like a hotel bar area, and we weren't there to see Bravo Lubs. It ended up being where like the Bravo Lubs stay. But we just so happened to have, I'll tell you offline, where like not that it's a secret, but um, so we we were like by the bar area prior to an event we were doing, and Ashley was like, Oh, look over there. There's like Emily. She was with some other people too, and they were like at the hotel bar drinking, and I think Emily peeped us, peeping her. And you could just tell she was like, Don't approach me, and I'm like, Don't worry, nothing. It was not that important. Yeah, so it just felt very like church and state, like, don't even so it wasn't very welcoming, especially when you're in town for an event. And I used to work in events with celebrities, and when you're on like when you're out, I get it, I get it. Yeah, totally, but also you're here for work. Your job is to talk, your job is to talk, and it's during BravoCon weekend. It would be one thing if we were in the Bahamas and I saw her and her family at Atlantis, you know, and I'm like, you know, whatever. But like you're at the BravoCon Convention Center. You might see a fan. Everyone, yes, you might see one. There might be one, one. So just like turn on. I get it's a tough weekend. It's even for creators and things like that. Like, it's it's hard. BravoCon weekend is like it's fun, but it's also exhausting. Um so I again, Grace extended there. I didn't cry myself to sleep about it, but it was it was just like I didn't get a friendly, welcoming vibe from her. But I if I I could probably think more, but yeah, what about you?
SPEAKER_02I think I think I'm gonna go with Carl as a nicest as well. And that's simply because I went to the soft bar grand opening. Okay, yeah, it was beautiful in the fact of his PR department and everyone that works at the soft bar, they knew who I was before I walked up. They said Taylor and Gas, league, they just knew. Which I'm like, okay, you've listened to the show, yeah. You know who I you've done the research. I bring my husband, I'm I'm networking, and not even networking, like there's girls with cute shoes. I'm like, where'd you get your shoes? We're chatting. I'm like, wait, where'd Nate go? I'm looking around, I'm like, where's Nate? And then he comes over, maybe like 20 minutes later, and he goes, babe, I just met this great guy. And I said, Oh, yeah, which one is he? He goes, He's that one right there. I said, Carl, the guy who invited us. And he was like, Yeah, he showed me his podcast studio and we were chatting about production. And I'm like, Of course you were. And like, Nate has no idea about any of this world. So I'm like, that was really sweet, and he had no reason to do that. No, be nice. Meanest person I've come in contact with, and I can probably say this now, Raquel, Rachel, yeah, yeah, whatever. Her team has sent me a cease and assist before because I couldn't keep her name out of my mouth. With the only caveat to that is uh she asked to be on the pod. And I said, totally, let's do a redemption arc. I'm all for women, and like let's do it. And then she's like, that'll be five thousand dollars. And I was like, What? Girl, you're doing sound maths right now. I'm not paying you five grand. And then her team was like, That never happened. She's a brand new and unknown podcaster. I'm like, okay, send me the cease and assist.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so I might be dumb here, but we don't have a podcast, we just have a uh YouTube show. So I don't know all the like logistics and everything of booking talent and whatnot, but I didn't realize people paid to have like I thought it was kind of like a come on the show thing.
SPEAKER_02Typically it is. So, like, if I were reaching out to like Barbara Streisand, sure, I I'm gonna pay money for that girl. If I went Beyonce on the podcast, Miss Knowles is definitely not coming on for free. So yes, I'll put that aside. I never have really heard of that in the Bravo sphere. Mara Abraham, uh, she quoted me a couple grand too, which was weird. She like included travel, and I was like, girl, what is going on? No. Uh now she's like running for mayor, so I'm like really glad that I did not.
SPEAKER_01Okay, the point from reality star to office is insane. Oh, you know what? I'm watching actually, and I was watching right before I came on. I'm starting, well, I've already started Sister Wives. Have you watched?
SPEAKER_02Girl, yes.
SPEAKER_01Are you so you're like season what one or two right now? So lol, I'm on season six now. I love it. Okay, yeah, no, so like that's because I haven't watched a ton of TLC reality shows, I will say. So Sister Wives, like I've never watched really 90 Day Fiance. I'm I'm I'm familiar with them just being on social media, but I never really watched. So I'm like, because you know, Bravo Historian, she's always talking about Sister Wives. So I was like, you know what? Sam's always talking about it. I'm gonna watch. So I I love it. I have it on like when I'm working or when I'm cleaning or whatever, and it's just so interesting. So I would probably say Sister Wives is what I'm currently binging.
SPEAKER_02I love that. My one thing about Sister Wives is even watching it back, I don't know how many times I've watched it, but looking and seeing how obsessed they all are with Robin, and then they all like hate Robin, it's crazy.
SPEAKER_01So, okay, so I use I don't love Reddit because it's pretty much like a cesspool, but I will say I will go on and like look for stuff in context to what I'm watching because like since I didn't watch live, I miss out on all the stuff that happens like in real time, like all the drama. So I'm like, okay, now I need to know what's going on. I did see that Mariah's child, Leon, is posting like um an expose soon on TikTok. So I'm like, I will be seated in SAT for that. Yep, that's interesting, and I also find it interesting not to dog on polygamy. I don't know if you have listeners that are in polyamory. I don't know. Love interview. Um it's interesting to me that none of the kids have poly like polyg polyamory relationships. So I think that's interesting to me.
SPEAKER_02That's very telling. I and they not notably nobody does interviews. The sister wives don't, he doesn't. None of the kids really do. So it's gonna be interesting to like see the whole expose when it comes out.
SPEAKER_01100%. I'm like, I'm so curious because like when I watch, I'm like, oh, what are the kids like, what are the teens, what are they doing now? How old are they, etc.? And um, you know, it's really interesting. The only thing I've really seen is McKelty was like doing like random things. Um really deep dive into it, but I was just like, okay, but everyone else seems rather quiet online. You mentioned Reddit.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Have you ever gone down a Reddit rabbit hole on yourself?
SPEAKER_01Uh no. I don't even I don't I don't I wonder if I would be on there.
SPEAKER_02I don't know. Oh girl, you're on there. I was on there before this. Yeah, nothing bad though. Like people just cite you as the source. Oh I didn't know if like you had seen a Reddit thread and been like, oh my god, that's so mean, or oh my gosh, that's like one of the nicest things ever.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, I actually have not. I have not. But it's not because I wouldn't think to do it, like to be clear. I just like I haven't because I just didn't think, I just didn't think, but I will say, like, on Facebook, when I see um someone like sharing like a meme or whatever that I created, and just like seeing Taste of Reality in the wild is so fun to me. I'm like, oh my gosh, I posted that. That's cool, you know.
SPEAKER_02So I I still have that feeling. I was so excited when I got my first mention on Taste of Reality that I called my web team and I was like, you have to put this on my website right now. Like, I've been following this brand for so long.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, no, we love you. That's so sweet. I always like it's so funny you say that because lately I've been feeling like really down. I feel like as a creator, you get it. Like sometimes you're just like, oh, I feel like we're not growing as much, or uh, this person who I feel like I'm kind of peers with was invited to this and we weren't invited to that. So like lately I've been really down on myself. Um, it's just the low, you know, you go highs, you go lows. So thank you for saying that because I kind of needed that little jolt of encouragement. So I really appreciate that. But no, you're killing it as well. And it was so I was so excited to be able to do this show with you.
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, anytime you need like a little bump of encouragement, call me, text me. I got you a money. I will be your designated hype woman for now until forever. We need to actually like exchange information because like I'm like, no, we're friends. No, I was just going to say that. Um, we're best friends now. I was gonna say, like, offline, you have to tell me where you live in Florida. Like, let's meet up, let's come down, like, let's have a let's do a weekend.
SPEAKER_01I'm so down. I was just thinking, and I'm like, you know what? I want to find like more creator friends and like you know, people in this space because Ashley and I run this together, but like I don't want to say we're insular. We go to events if invited, and we love to, you know, hang out with people, but like we don't have like deep connections with anybody. And I was like, you know what? I want a friend group. I want to like wait, Amani, are we gonna start a friend group? No, I think we are. No, I think so. I want to start a group. Mom talk, watch out, except not a mom, but stop.
SPEAKER_02I love everything about that. Um, for all of my listeners, just to close this out a little bit, because I have talked about you being such a strong, independent woman, the what you've built is so incredible and inspirational to uh to every all of your followers, including myself. If you were talking to all of my little gremlins, all of my listeners right now who are trying to build something themselves and are trying to be strong women, what's your advice to them?
SPEAKER_01I would say, and this is what I'm following for myself, is kind of like put your head down and do it for the love of the game, honestly, because if you're if you don't genuinely have an interest in the love and what you're doing, you're gonna get burnt out really easily. I find myself getting really tired and I love it. And if I was just doing it for instant gratification or for like to get PR sent to you or to be instantly famous, it that's not what it is. Um, certainly it is kind of a luck game these days with social media algorithms. It's it's difficult and I feel like it's always changing. So you genuinely have to just focus on yourself and what makes you different. I think what makes all of us different, even though we're all sort of reporting on the same thing, is our voice and our individuality. And to me, that is the business card. So I would say just put your head down, stay in your lane, um, and don't compare yourself. As I just sat here saying that I'm feeling down on myself because I'm comparing to other outlets and creators and things like that. But genuinely, if you build it, they will come, have good intentions, be a good person. You can be a little snarky sometimes, but remember on the other end, there are they are people, and I feel like that goes a really long way.
SPEAKER_02So that was amazing and so inspirational to everyone.
SPEAKER_01Where can my listeners find you? So you can find us, myself and Ashley. We are co-owners. We um are on tasteofreality.com, which is the blog where we report on all the things in actual words. You can also find us on TikTok, Taste of Reality Threads is a really fun platform that we're really enjoying lately. Threads is amazing. Um, Instagram and yeah, anywhere where you get content, pretty much, you can find us there.
SPEAKER_02Well, thank you so much for being on the show today. Everybody go and follow Amani and her brand Taste of Reality. And we gotta have you on soon, girl. Oh my god, we need to like keep doing deep dives for sure.
SPEAKER_01Totally. This was so fun, and it was so nice to finally connect with you. And it's semi person, semi in person.