The Real Charm Podcast

Send a textI recorded this episode a few weeks ago, not realizing how long it would be and how long it would take to edit alongside a busy July work schedule. I talk a lot about other shows - Next Gen NYC, The Valley, etc - so if you're not interested, maybe skip 1 hour in? I do think you'll find this episode about #17 housewife Lisa Wu Hartwell interesting though! She was an early cast member of Atlanta, and continued to make appearances on the show over the years. But it's what she's done outside of the show that's keeping her fueled and going a thousand miles a minute, even today. Enjoy!Support the show

Send a textHoly cow! Did not have a divorce filing for Denise Richards and husband, Aaron, on my bingo card for this year, yet here we are. Apparently, Aaron hasn't worked since he sold his wellness center and Denise makes $250,000 a MONTH on Only Fans? What?? More info is coming in, as we speak, so I will keep you posted. Janet, from the Valley, had to MOVE to Switzerland, due to death threats? Come on, girl... You're more dramatic than Sheana Shay, which I never thought I would say lol. And finally, we've come to our Number 16 housewife, Kim Zolciak - wow, what a long episode and I didn't even get into the "part 2" article I wanted to share about her feud with Nene Leakes over the years. We WILL get to more of that as we move through Season 1 of Atlanta. Trust me, it will all play out quickly! Make sure to follow us on Instagram at The Real Charm Pod!Consider supporting the show! Anything helps to get episodes out quicker. We have A LOT to cover on the road ahead!Support the show

Send a textYou guys! I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted last. As I explain in this episode, I had a lot going on - one "distraction" actually had me in Atlanta, believe it or not, quite a bit! But my biggest accomplishment was clocking over 80 episodes of my OTHER podcast, Labeled Organizing, which is a supplement to my business: Labeled Organizing. But back to reality TV!! I have thought about NeNe's episode for a LONG time and, after months had gone by, I felt more pressure than ever to make sure her episode was "Gooood, Hunney." [Double shoulder, double snap lol.] But I think I did it well! I certainly couldn't even BEGIN to cover all of her accomplishments over the years, but the bigger goal was getting back to this podcast and getting her story - and ALL of their stories - out there for all of you to hear... because unless you were an original viewer of this franchise, you'll never understand the complexity of these relationships unless... You go back in time and... Re-introduce yourself. [wink] Enjoy!Support the show

Send a textWho's ready for Atlanta??? I sure am... Some of the "best" Housewives over the years have come out of this franchise and I'm excited to begin "introducing" the ones who made up the cast of Season 1. On today's episode, we are covering DeShawn Snow - wife of NBA player, Eric Snow. We talk about her introduction on the show, their new mansion at the time, how she featured the first in-home beauty salon (do we think she started the glam trend?) and ultimately, their divorce and where she is now. Also make sure to follow the pod, so that you never miss an episode, and please consider becoming a subscriber of the show if you love this content!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087390/subscribeFollow on Instagram at @realcharmpod! Support the show

Send a textIn this episode, we're wrapping up our last housewife to be introduced from Season 1 of the Real Housewives of New York. That is the one and only Countess... LuAnn de Lesseps! In 2018, she was voted the #1 Housewife (out of 46 that were on screen that year) by TV Guide; however, many in 2024 would still list her as one of their top favorites of all time. On the pod, we cover everything from her introduction on the show, to getting divorced (just the first time), getting arrested and making the ultimate comeback with spin-offs and tours and trips - Oh my! I would also like to note that I made a little "oopsie" in Alex's episode (so sorry!) and I correct all of that here. I also talk about where we're heading next: Season 1 of Atlanta. So, come get caught up with us as we reintroduce ourselves to the Real Housewives of ALL cities, as well as the full cast of Southern Charm - all in chronological order of how they were introduced to us.Find us on Instagram at RealCharmPod and please consider being a contributor of the show!Support the show

Send a textHappy 2024 Everyone! It's already been an exciting (you could call it that) adventure for me, just in the first two weeks of the new year, but luckily, I have all of you and this fun little project to return to after many weeks away. Today, we're going to talk about our No. 12 housewife: Alex McCord. Alex was on the FIRST season of RHONY and provided a unique perspective of the group, as she lived in Brooklyn at the time. She was also one of the first housewives to truly team up with her husband on this wild ride that is "The Housewives." (Simon became just as excited - if not more excited - to be in front of the camera.) And they are still married today, which is amazing considering how many couples fell apart, right in front of our eyes.  Make sure to follow us now on Instagram at @realcharmpod. Also, please consider supporting the pod by clicking the following:The Real Charm Podcast (The Real Charm Podcast) (buzzsprout.com) Thank you so much!Support the show

Send a textShe's the Queen "B" of Reality TV AND one of the first people to make millions off of it! Of course, we're talking about Bethenny Frankel. As we continue with Season 1 of the Real Housewives of New York, we see how the now Entrepreneur, Author, Podcaster and YouTuber started out as a true underdog of the franchise. In her introduction, we see her with Jason (#1) then I talk Jason #2, her daughter, friendships and fights with other castmates... How she went from a childhood at the horse track to landing a RHONY contract with only $8k to her name to becoming a household name that's (almost) as well known as Martha Stewart. Make sure to follow us now on Instagram at @realcharmpod. Also, please consider supporting the pod by clicking the following:The Real Charm Podcast (The Real Charm Podcast) (buzzsprout.com) Thank you so much!Support the show

Send a textSurprise! (Insert strong NY accent lol) It’s the 10th housewife in our project, the OG of the R-H-O-N-Y: Jill Zarin! This one was fun, because Jill is always just so full of life and seeing her back in Episode 1 of Season 1 of the Real Housewives of New York, brought back a lot of great memories for me.Join me in this episode, where I take you back to her introduction on the show, as well as Bobby and Ally’s, then we cover where she’s at today with motherhood, her love life, and, of course, all of her “fabulous” brands.Make sure to follow us now on Instagram at @realcharmpod. Also, please consider supporting the pod by clicking the following:The Real Charm Podcast (The Real Charm Podcast) (buzzsprout.com) Thank you so much!Support the show

Send a textAfter covering housewives from the first few seasons of Orange County, we are now ready to start with New York! Leading the pack is the OG of RHONY: Ramona Singer, aka the "Singer Stinger!" We'll talk about her awkward early years on the show and pull out a few "grammar police" moments, while also seeing how both her and her daughter, Avery, have evolved over the years. Just like it was always "five-o-clock somewhere" for Jimmy Buffet, Ramona will always clear her schedule for a little "turtle time" and loves when we let loose right along with her! Make sure to follow us now on Instagram at @realcharmpod. Also, please consider supporting the pod by clicking the following:The Real Charm Podcast (The Real Charm Podcast) (buzzsprout.com) Thank you so much!Support the show

Send a textShe may have only appeared on the Real Housewives of Orange County for one season, but our eighth housewife sure was... uh... unique! Today, we'll RE-introduce Quinn Fry, as well as do a "highlight reel" from Season 3, Episode 2 to Episode 8. (Quinn arrives in Episode 6.) We'll talk about this self-proclaimed "cougar," why she only lasted six episodes and what really hasn't changed for her in the last sixteen years.  I'd also like to congratulate Vicki Gunvalson on receiving the first-ever "Wifetime Achievement Award," presented this past weekend at Bravo Con 2023, for being an original OG of this franchise AND sticking with it for almost 18 years. I'm sure it never gets old for her to hear that this show wouldn't be anywhere near the level it is now without her!Make sure to join us on the next episode, where we finally get to Season 1, Episode 1 of the ORIGINAL New Housewives of New York and meet a whole new cast. One of my favorites!Support the show

Send a textOn this episode of the Real Charm Podcast, we meet our seventh OC housewife: Tamra Judge. There's a lot to unpack with this one and, honestly, it was the hardest episode yet for me to do. In meeting Tamra, we also have to revisit all of the fights she's initiated with other cast members and really dig through her past to see why she is (hands down) the most loved AND hated housewife in all of the franchise. Following this episode, we meet a one-season housewife from OC then we're putting the whole city ON PAUSE (much like Tamra was) while we shift over to Season 1 of RHONY - Thank. Goodness. Whether you're a Tamra fan or not, past or present, I believe you'll appreciate this episode and the level of detail that came out of it. This podcast has become a bit of a reality TV "therapy" for me and with this housewife, I certainly needed it. Please make sure to visit the "Introduction" of this pod to get an updated "Line Up" of upcoming Housewives and Southern Charm cast episodes and make sure to share with a friend!Support the show

Send a textOn this episode, we go back and meet the housewife with one of the coolest last names... Tammy Knickerbocker! We also do a full highlight reel, connecting the finale episode from Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Orange County to the end of Season 2. Noted: I also re-recorded the Introduction to include the air dates of the first SIX years of Housewives, as well as provide a "roster" for the first 20 Housewives we'll cover on the pod. So feel free to re-visit the introduction, get caught up, then visit us back here!Support the show

Send a textIt’s time to meet our 5th and final housewife from Season 1 of the Real Housewives of Orange County: Lauri Peterson! This episode is also unique because it ties in the first four housewives then fills in the gaps before we meet our next housewife in Season 2. This is a BIG task, as all housewives are introduced in Episode 1, yet the season has a total of 7 episodes. Between forming new friendships and sending kids off to college, we have broken engagements, run-ins with the law and lots of tennis and golf (sounds about right!) Then we have our first hint of drama when one of the housewives takes the opportunity to snag a man fresh out of a relationship with one of the other gals. Stay tuned for more details on this, as well as the VERY FIRST reunion show, then we’re off to Season 2!Support the show

Send a textShe's the OG of the OC! It's our 4th Housewife introduction, though she needs no introduction. It's Victoria Steinmetz, a.ka. Vicki Gunvalson! Vicki has been the longest running housewife, with 14 seasons under her belt and she's STILL going, despite taking a couple of years off then returning as a "friend" of the show. But nothing stops her... After countless struggles, boyfriends and car trips "bringing her laptop," Vicki has proven to us that she can be a mom, housewife AND business woman and still "Whoop It Up" when needed. We also - briefly - discuss Racquel teaming up with Bethany for a podcast interview (woah, are people mad). And we also figure out the lineup for future episodes, breaking down when each city and its first season aired on Bravo and when WE will discuss it. Stay tuned... we're JUST getting started!Support the show

Send a textOn today's episode, we'll reintroduce ourselves to Kimberly Bryant, who was on the Real Housewives of OC, Season 1. After leaving the show - and Orange County - at the start of Season 2, there was much speculation as to what happened to her. Is she still in Chicago? Is she still ALIVE?? I'm pleased to give the first spoiler alert here that yes, she is indeed still alive. But what happened to her from 2006 to now may be up for debate with some. I give my opinion on the OC scandal surrounding her family and bring up some articles (I paid a whole $1 to get them) that may give you a different perspective on the situation as well. I also give my opinion (again, because so many people are asking lol) on what she should do with Bravo NOW in order to take back her story and maybe even get paid a little better this time for it!Support the show

Send a textIn episode 2, we continue meeting the Orange County Housewives by focusing in on the entrance of Jo De La Rosa! This fun, naive, soon-to-be-housewife was the first to push back on the idea of becoming a "lady of leisure" and gave Slade Smiley a run for his money (that is, while he had it). Jo has sense moved on to other creative adventures AND got married last year, but we'll always remember her journey behind the gates with the original OGs of OC. Check out this episode for your cheat sheet on Jo De La Rosa-Gray!Support the show

Send a textWe kick off our first full-length episode of our new podcast with the ORIGINAL OC Jeana (not the lovely Gina we see in current episodes) - and that is Jeana Keough, AKA Jeana Tomasina. It's still unclear whether it was Jeana who caught the eye of Bravo to pick up the "ladies behind the gates" or if it really was Vicki's son, Michael, who reached out to the network first. Still, according to the Real Charm "rules" of introduction, we simply introduce each cast member in the order in which they were introduced to us on our screens. (Though Vicki appears in the opening credits first, Jeana and her family are interviewed/featured first.)Though we still have so much more to talk about when it comes to Jeana, the quotes from Jeana, Matt and their kids in just the first five minutes we meet them is so telling of what life behind the gates was like in the early to mid-2000s. Support the show

Send a textWhere were you when the very first episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County aired in 2006? Were you an actual housewife yourself? Were you napping in a crib? What about when Southern Charm debuted back in 2014?Like most shows that have been running for many years, you may be watching a current episode where something is said that makes the editors "roll the tape." Once you see the flashback, you gasp and say, "Oh YEAH... I remember her [or that]!" Still, maybe you can't place certain faces or recall important details. Who ended up being related? Dated? That baby on Season 1... They're now in college??Join me, an original Real Housewives viewer, as I return to Season 1, Episode 1 of City 1 and introduce you to each housewife - as well as Southern Charm cast - in the order in which they appeared. Get a snapshot of their time on the show, as well as how they fit in with the cast today - or how they don't. Where are they now and more importantly, what are they WEARING now. The Real Charm of these franchises are the people who started them. The people who brought their true, authentic selves to the table, not knowing what was in store. If you're ready to go on this journey with me, back in time and behind the gates, make sure to click "Follow" and join me in Episode 1!Support the show