Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Jess is back with Andy Bellatti, the #1 Lamb in this fam! Jess and Andy hunkered down over the last week and consumed both the audiobook and written word in order to properly review The Meaning of Mariah Carey. We also spent weeks pouring over our Top 10 Mariah song lists which we reveal after the book review. We are prepared with trivia, deep cuts and moments! Finally, Andy shares his story of wr...

Jess is joined by Kameelah Phillips, fave Real World alum from season six: Boston! Kameelah chats about auditioning when she was a 19-year-old Stanford University student and goes deep on her current friendships with Genesis, Syrus, Elka, Montana and polarizing congressman Sean Duffy. Kameelah is now a successful OBGYN in New York City but still loves reality TV, and is ready with hot takes on Pot...

The time has come for Astrology with Andy... Potomac Edition! Jess welcomes back our resident astrologer to the Housewives, Andy Bellatti, this time to dissect the birth charts of Karen Huger, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and the relationship compatibility chart of Monique Samuels / Candiace Dillard. Andy breaks down their sun & moon signs and also gives a deeper reading into their planets, aspect...

Jess is joined by Madonna podcast "MLVC" producer/co-host Tony Trius to deconstruct the 2008 tell-all "Life With My Sister Madonna," written by her brother Christopher Ciccone. We go deep on Christopher's ever-evolving role in M's life and career, including backup dancer, live show dresser, Blond Ambition/Girlie Show stage designer, artistic director & home interior designer. Through his lens, we...

Jess is joined by Flipping Out interior designer Megan Weaver! Megan chats about first meeting Jeff Lewis in a restaurant bathroom which eventually led to filming 7 seasons of Flipping Out on Bravo. We discuss: her work on Lala & Randall's house, losing weight on Teddi Mellencamp's All In program & Jeff's falling out with Jenni Poulos. We also discuss her former career as a production assistant fo...

Jess has an epic kiki with Mr. Everything Iconic himself, Danny Pellegrino!! Together, Danny & Jess hunker down and go deep about the formative gay culture that shaped our youth. We go deep on The View, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Kathy Griffin, Survivor, The Real World, Showgirls, Queer as Folk, Will & Grace, The Ashlee Simpson Show & more! Follow @jessxnyc & @hottakesdeepdives  

Jess is joined by Kate Casey (Reality Life) to gather their hot takes and gauge anticipation for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, new season of RHOC, react to Denise Richards leaving Beverly Hills & touch on Selling Sunset vs. Million Dollar Listing. We then go deep on our top two picks for non-Housewives content to consume: the HBOMax documentary "Class Action Park" & HBO docuseries "The Vo...

The time has come! In honor of Bionic's 10 year anniversary + "Reflection," Jess welcomes back Andy Bellatti (@astrologywithandy) to go head to head on our Top 10 X-Tina songs. Look out for the deep cuts... the taste WILL. JUMP. OUT.  PS: Don't miss our Top 10 Britney songs debate released back in May! Follow @jessxnyc , @hottakesdeepdives & @astrologywithandy  

Jess attended two RHONY tapings that aired in this season's penultimate & final episodes: Leah's 15th anniversary of Married to the Mob party + Luann's F Marry Kill rehearsal. She hangs with her friend Dale Saylor, interior designer and Housewives historian, who pumps her with questions about the production & filming process.  Follow @jessxnyc & @hottakesdeepdives  

Jess is joined by PetShopBoy aka "B" and very quickly learns why he was recently blocked by Kelly Dodd (despite meeting on Fire Island). We chat about casting on RHONY in Dorinda's wake, unnecessary fourth-wall breaking on the RHOBH finale, the thrill of a Karen Huger sighting & attending high school with Beyoncé. We also brainstorm ideas for Madonna's upcoming biopic and discuss our mutual adorat...

Jess summons Anthony Lario back to the pod to react to the breaking news that Dorinda Medley is leaving RHONY after 6 seasons. We discuss firing vs. quitting and muse on why this announcement came before the season's end. We also discuss Garcelle's casting on "The Real" and how this will impact her RHOBH future. Finally, Anthony chats about his incredible 100 pound weight loss over the last two ye...

Jess catches up with Tiffany Rinehart — Kathy Griffin's long-time assistant as featured on My Life on the D-List!  Tiffany now works for Google, but we do a deep dive on her time with Kathy including: getting the gig via MySpace, receiving financial advice from Suze Orman, ordering pizza to Cher's house in Malibu and her 80lb weight loss after seeing herself on TV. Plus her take on Kathy's falling...

Jess hangs with "Mixing with Mani" host (and DC/Potomac area native) Mani to present the Top 10 Episodes of Real Housewives of Potomac you must watch to get up to speed. We cover Monique & Candiace's entrances, the Grande Dame's finances press conference, Gizelle's hazy past with her ex slash future pastor husband + the Michael Darby hot mic heard 'round the world. Jess & Mani then recap Bravo's "...

Jess hangs with Brian Moylan — King of the Housewives Recaps, Erika Jayne co-author, Vulture writer & Gawker alum — for his State of Bravo Address 2020. We dissect the current moments in which we're living: Bravo exposing Denise's private affair to their benefit, why it's hard to support Ramona "All Lives Matter" Singer, the Leah McSweeney version of New York City that RHONY should pursue & marvel...

Jess catches up with Jonathan Antin, once referred to as a "scissors-wielding lunatic," and star of Bravo's Blow Out which aired from 2004-2006. Jonathan chats about growing up in Beverly Hills with his sister Robin Antin (choreographer & creator of The Pussycat Dolls), to eventually become the world-renowned hair stylist with a wild personality. Jonathan shares stories of cutting & styling the ic...

Jess is joined by social media brander & Housewives Whisperer Anthony Lario to chat about his experience working on set during the filming of RHONY this year. We also discuss his HOT take on the Denise & Brandi showmance, franchises currently in production (OC, NJ), the absence of Elyse & Brandi from their respective reunions, and the inevitable Lisa Rinna takedown.  **Announcing Bonus eps on Patr...

Jess sits down with actors / musicians / co-stars & couple Vicci Martinez & Emily Tarver from Orange is the New Black! Vicci Martinez is best known for playing Daddy on OITNB as well as her big break on Season 1 of The Voice. Emily Tarver played guard CO McCullough for four seasons, and shined in the final season opposite Laura Prepon/Alex Vause. We chat about their auditions/experiences on The Vo...

Jess catches up with Work Out queen JACKIE WARNER to learn how she opened her high profile gym Sky Sport & Spa in Beverly Hills that served as the backdrop for drama on Bravo's Work Out. Jackie chats about dating in West Hollywood, her long-term relationship with Jillian Michaels, the heavy production/soft scripting on the reality show, and why she left LA for good to move back to her home state o...

Jess hangs with T.Kyle, co-host of Legends Only & It's Britney, Bitch! We kiki about his career in digital media at MTV, Watch What Happens Live and currently The Tonight Show. We also discuss how both reality & awards shows (VMAs) have changed since the early 2000s. Finally, T.Kyle reveals his Top 3 Britney, XTina & Gaga songs and a lot more!  * Announcing Patreon! * patreon.com/hottakesdeepdives...

Jess welcomes back empath & intuitive Jamie Stein! Jamie is therapeutically trained, with an ability to channel (feel, see and hear) what is going on inside of an individual on an unconscious level. This time he does an exploration on Denise Richards' marriages to Truther Aaron & Charlie Sheen,  and a deeper look at the rest of the RHOBH women, particularly Lisa Rinna's pot stirring. Plus, Leah Mc...

Jess has a glorious kiki with Queer Eye OG Carson Kressley where we go deep on his relationship to the Housewives (including filming WWHL w/ Alex McCord) & his fave franchises.  We chat about his days & nights in NYC in the early 1990s which led to his first career as a fashion show producer & advertiser for Ralph Lauren. Carson reflects on the sparse Bravo landscape back when Queer Eye debuted in...

Our very own Astrologer to the Housewives — Andy Bellatti aka @AstrologyWithAndy — is back! This time we dissect the birth charts and astrological insights of Denise Richards, Leah McSweeney, Stassi Schroeder & Erika Jayne. Andy breaks down their sun & moon signs and also gives a deeper reading into their planets, aspects & transits.  [ Denise Richards: 6:15 ] [ Leah McSweeney: 18:15 ] [ Erika Jay...

Jess has a freewheelin' kiki with true OC insider (and Reality Life host) Kate Casey to touch down on the Netflix pseudo-reality real estate show "Selling Sunset," the comparison of Selling Sunset to Million Dollar Listing, and some final thoughts on Tinsley's abrupt RHONY finale. We also discuss the new Netflix doc "Disclosure," devoted to the history of trans representation in TV & film, and go...

Jess is joined by Watch What Crappens co-host Ben Mandelker and we go DEEP into the Bravo podcasting rabbit hole. We chat about the origins of Watch What Crappens, how Ben & Ronnie attended LeeAnne Locken's wedding, their insane audition for The People's Couch, stalking Alex McCord at The Ivy in LA, Ben's former TV recap site, Jess' former career as an SNL cast stalker, how interning for Conan O'B...

Jess chats with Danny Roberts, the breakout star of one of the greatest seasons of MTV's The Real World — New Orleans. Back in 2000, Danny became the face of the war against Don't Ask, Don't Tell, due to his relationship with his military boyfriend Paul, whose identity had to be blurred out on TV, or else he would lose his career. Danny chats about the audition & filming process, and how he suffer...