BILFPOD - Unfiltered, Unapologetic & Unbothered: Margaret Josephs Tells All

Episode Date: July 3, 2025

In this episode of BILFPod, Mara sits down with the one and only Margaret Josephs—entrepreneur, author, and Real Housewife of New Jersey with a Rolodex full of receipts and a closet full of power moves.From building a multimillion-dollar brand to navigating reality TV with candor and confidence, Margaret opens up about the grit behind the glam, the business of being yourself, and why she’ll never shrink to make others comfortable.Now with her newest venture Soirée on the rise, Margaret shares how she’s mastered the art of the pivot—turning setbacks into comebacks, critics into fuel, and her unapologetic voice into her biggest asset.You’ll hear:How she turned challenges into chapters of her comeback storyThe inside scoop on launching Soirée and building beyond BravoWhat it really takes to stay confident in the face of public pressureHer take on Housewives drama, reputation rumors, and standing firmWhy being bold isn’t just a brand—it’s a lifestyleHow she deals with haters while keeping it glam and groundedWhether you're scaling a business or reclaiming your own spotlight, this episode serves up boss-level realness and a whole lot of BILF energy. 🎧💋📩 Get Connected✨ Follow Margaret JosephsThe powerhouse behind Macbeth Collection and now the founder of Soirée—Margaret is more than a Bravo icon, she’s a boss with a brand.📲 Instagram: @therealmargaretjosephs🌐 Shop Soirée: drinksoiree.com 🛍 Explore Margaret’s world: margaretjosephs.com✨ Connect with Mara DorneSerial entrepreneur, content queen, and your go-to Boss You’d Like to Follow—Mara brings the vibes, the value, and the visionary conversations every week.📲 Instagram: @maradorne & @bilfpod🎙 More episodes + guest inquiries: maradorne.com

You never know what's going to happen and life changes on a dime. Could be up one day, you could be down one day, and you have to be able to support yourself. And, you know, it's great for your self-esteem, your self-worth. I always feel very confident. People always say, Marge, you know, you have a good self-esteem, you're not an insecure. I feel like I could go into any room. And I do think that comes from working at a young age and always feeling confident that I could take care of myself. Welcome back to the BILF pod where authenticity trumps authority.

And today's guest, do we have a real bilf? So before I introduce who she is, do you know what a BILF is? Yes, I mean, yes, a boss I'd like to follow. Yeah, but you're the real boss. Yes, I mean, most days. No, yes. Some days. Yes, a lot of days.

Yes, you are. Yes, absolutely. Today we have Margaret Joseph, who I, I know we were laughing. I did watch the show. and you are really the most appealing character because I think we've resignate the most. I mean, you're just your whole entrepreneur life. I know your fashion designer, author, TV personality, entrepreneur in its own right. I mean, what don't you do, first of all?

You look, like you're just through the whole package. Oh, thank you so much. I'm so appreciate that. Thank you. I just feel like, you know what? I've done it all. I've lived many, many lives. And I feel like, you know, entrepreneurship is like in you, right?

Yes. Yes. I think you're born innately with it. Yes, exactly. from selling at a lemonade stand, a little kid to, like, you know, my whole life, I was always on the hustle. Oh, that is. It's so true.

But oddly enough, I never sold anything. I just would sell, like, bullshit to my friends. Like, I used to steal their clothes. You know, my girlfriends are sitting here, and I used to, like, calm them all the time during sleepaway camp to give me their food that their parents sent them. So I guess I was always kind of selling myself. And then as I got older, it just made sense. And here I am also in sales.

So, but let's dig in. I love it. Yes. Let's dig in. Let's dig in. First of all, I'm so excited. excited that you came. No, thank you for having me. I was so excited to do your podcast. So thank you. No, you are so welcome. So where did this start? Like where did your whole entrepreneurial

journey begin? Where did that start? I mean literally at a very young age. I always was just like a little hustler. I always wanted to make money. I always wanted to shop. I was raised by a single mother. I always saw my mother working. I think that really is what I saw. And I, you know, she always was like, You have to be independent. You always have to work. You always have to hustle. You always have to have something for yourself. It's very important.

It wasn't just about the money, but about feeling independent. And so I always did. You know, I come from, you know, my mother's a Hungarian immigrant. I was the first generation American. I didn't speak English until I went to kindergarten. So I always saw people working, you know, my grandparents as well. So I think that's really where it came from. So my whole life I worked, even, you know, through high school, I worked in shoe stores,

Bloomingdale's, everything. So I always wanted to have my own company from, I was, I went to FIT. I was a dress designer, you know, and all different things. And I think that's really where it came from. Yeah, you know, just listening to you and your background, the same thing. I don't know if you know, but I also was raised by a single mom. So I lost my father. Oh, I didn't realize that.

I did. I lost my dad when I was six years old. So my mom was 41 years old with this little girl. You know, and she, I always saw. my mom working and same thing like I saw my grandparents my grandmother work too which was like not really that common my mom too and my mom the same exact thing that it doesn't matter what happens in life because you never know you know it's true you have to be able to provide for not only yourself but your kids and the only way that you do

that is you get yours so you have to work so same no it's absolutely true you never know what's going to happen and life changes on a dime and you could be up one day you could be down one day and you have to be able to support yourself and you know it's great for your self-esteem, your self-worth. And I think, you know, I always feel very confident. People always say, Marge, you know, you have a good self-esteem, you're not an insecure. I feel like I could go into any room. And I do think that comes from working at a young age and always feeling confident that I could take care of myself. And the people around me. Yeah. So you've always been confidence. Yes. And confidence has nothing to do with being

the prettiest girl in the room, being the smartest girl in the room. It's, you're sense of self-worth comes from within. Yeah, it's that people who stay confidence with cockiness. Yes. And that's not what it is. It's not what it is. It's not what it is. And when you believe in yourself and you know that you can supersede and you can stand alone, you don't need a whole entourage. Exactly. Everybody validating what you'd need to do. That's what confidence is. It is. It is exactly is. So then, okay, so now you have this extensive background and we'll talk about the business that you're in and what you're doing. So how does one get on the housewives? I, this is very curious. Yes, it's very, very interesting. Well, prior to the housewives, I was a lifestyle expert. I was always on the news or,

you know, Rosanna Scott or the Today Show, Margaret's picks for the holidays and things like that, because I had a company. I was in the home accessory industry. And so, you know, my opinions matter. I was like, I know, I know better. So I always was, yes, absolutely. And I always loved gift giving. I always love entertaining, teaching people how to do it on a budget. So I was a lifestyle expert. And I was a little out there. You know, I was had the pigtails. You know, I was very, authentically myself and I did that so my agent at the time Mami Rosa Bloom who I'm very grateful for show he's work with Joan Rivers as well and said to me you know you're a real character you know you should be on TV I was

like okay and then she goes but you got to get your eyes done you but and too much wrinkles on your forehead I'm like okay you know she talks me to plastic surgery when I'm in my early 40s I get you know a brow lift and then she's like we're gonna do a sizzle reel I'm gonna get you on TV she shops me around and everybody literally wanted me to do my own show with with my husband joe with lexie my team it was called pigtails and power tools we had shot many pilots just uh and i was like oh i'm getting my own show my business was thriving i had a beautiful life always traveling doing great things and housewives had come to me it was season six you know because it was very popular then um even i feel like more

popular than it is now and it was before teresa had gone to jail and uh I'm dead. I'm dead. Yes. No, no, no. It was the year of the twins. And they said, you know, we'd love to interview. You know, I took the interview. You know, I take any interview. It's important to speak to everybody. Even though I thought I was getting my own show. And they're like, oh, my God, you know, Bravo loves you. They would love for you to come on. They think you're great. And I was like, oh, no, I'm getting my own show. Sorry. And then my, they called the production company I was with to try and get me out of it. And they were like, no, she's getting her own show. Fast forward. I don't get my own show. So I was like, all right. No, big. deal two years go by. A lot it happened in the housewives world. A lot it happened in my life. Like I said, you never know when the other shoe is going to drop. I was sitting high. I had horrible lawsuits. Crazy things happened. My bank accounts frozen. Like crazy shit. Yeah. You know, bad things happen. Life happens. In my business. No, my business. Crazy nonsense. A lot of lawsuits. I had moved to just my house I had now, big house. I'm going to renovate it. Housewives comes knocking again. They need a new housewife. They're going to start filming.

again it's season eight and they they came back to me and they were like are you ready to do it now so I didn't have to go through this lengthy process of interviewing and all this stuff the network executives came to my new old house which is very old house they saw you know we're renovating it I was a real you know like cartoon character you know I call myself powerhouse and pigtails you know I had my husband I you know I was like I married the contractor you know the whole nonsense and they're like, all right, you're the new housewife. It was very easy for me. I actually thought it was scripted and fake.

And that's how I became the housewife. That is incredible. So then you go on. So you didn't know any of the girls when you went on. They made it out like I was friends with Siggy Flickr, better known as Soggy Flickr, as I nicknamed her. But she was a very big cry, baby. Tell me how you really felt.

We had lived in the same town. We were acquaintances, but it was no one I had really liked. But I immediately had bonded with the other women. Yeah, so then you go on. Now, I watch, actually, I watched it when you first came on. Yes. When I was watching. So you come on and I remember like it was like you fit in with some of them.

Yes. Right? Yeah, I got along actually with Teresa Melissa right away. I remember. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then all of a sudden. And Danielle. The shit hits the fan.

Yeah, shit hits the fan. And that's it. Done. And now I just, I was actually watching with my girlfriend to like get updated. Then I see this reunion and you guys are in a restaurant on two separate sides. Am I right about this? Was it the finale? I think so.

Yeah. It was it, yeah, could have been the finale. So you cannot be in the room with that. Like you cannot control. Oh, this one. You're talking about this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We can't. No, no, no, no, no. No self-control. Well, I have self-control. I mean, I could control nothing. I'm not going to control. I'm not, I'm not throwing anything. I'm not going to hit anybody. I'm not going to hit anybody. I'm not, you know, I could tell you. You look like a lady. Like I mean, listen, I've had unladylike behavior. I'm not going to lie. I've had, I had thrown drinks at someone in fits of rage. I'm not, you know, which was. very not nice but that was only one person Danielle we but we had a very and I felt we had a very close bond and you know I did have reached towards her but anybody else I hadn't done that time no I feel like you know I always say I have deplorable behavior I feel like as long as you recognize it it's okay yes and that and my behavior with her wasn't good but ever since then there was nothing um no deploy I wouldn't you know I've said horrible things but it was to people who really deserved it no I don't really regret much. I was just going to say you're not apologetic. It doesn't look like you're very apologetic. No.

I'm not really apologetic. If I do something I don't like or I think that I apologize and I mean it. Yeah, but if not then why I love that. You're unapologetically you and you say what you need to say. You mean what you have to say and who cares and you have all the success to back it up. Look at the business. I also think I'm vindicated on a regular basis. And I and I think people realize that I've been right 99.9% of the time. It's a gut feeling. It's a gut feeling. It's a And it might take time to be vindicated, but it always, isn't that funny how shit floats? Yes, it does. It's true. It's true.

Truth always comes out. Always. It doesn't matter what. It might not be today, might not be tomorrow, but I promise you, it definitely. It definitely always comes out. Darkness comes to light all the time. Yes, it doesn't. And I haven't been wrong yet.

I love that for you. Yes, I've been very blessed. So what are you waiting for it to be right about now? Nothing. Everything I've ever said I've been right about has happened so far. So it just, it just keeps coming. It's just so funny how to you know. It just keeps coming.

So we were talking before that you don't drink, which I did not know that. I had no idea that you really, you just don't drink, not into it. I want to be clear, you're not an addict. Not that. No, no, no, not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean, the sober community are my people because I have a mocktail line. No, I really, but I grew up with a mother that cocktails a little too much. Yeah.

She, you know, she doesn't think she ever had a problem. I make it know, I beg to differ. But it was the 70s. Yeah. Very common. You know, things were very different then. You know, and she was a very young mother. We're only 20 years apart.

But as a young little girl, it frightened me. I learned very early on that drinking is not good. I do not like a sloppy drunk. I don't like to feel out of control. And so I never picked a habit of for drinking. I never developed a taste for alcohol. I've had a drink, but I don't enjoy it. And then I get a horrible migraine.

So I don't drink. I don't drink alcohol. I abstain from it. But I'm a professional party girl. I like to stay out late. I like to dance all night. I like to enjoy everything that everybody who does drink and have a good time does. And I think people think people who don't drink are Debbie Downers, right?

They're like, you know, why don't you drink? What's wrong with you? You're a buzzkill. No, I can party with the best of them. So I wanted to create a brand, soiree, which means a party, that people feel comfortable partying together, that people have something that they could hold that taste good. How sick am I? I don't want to be drinking, iced tea, diet soda, this, all the nonsense.

I'm going to drink something that you're drinking. If you're drinking a cosmopolitan, why can't I drink something that tastes good and elevated? Yeah. So I started Swaray with Lexi, who's been with me for 17 years. She's my business partner. Help me grow other businesses. And we came out with Swaray. So where can you find Swaray?

Well, you could go online, Swaray. DrinkSwarray.com. You'll have a list of places to find it. But currently we're on premise a few places, some liquor stores in New Jersey, buy right, Garys. And that's really where. so on pancake factory. We're a lot of little places.

We're really just growing the brand right now. And it's been going well. And then so they cut, you want to show the can't? Oh, yeah, yeah. Can we do that? Okay, fine. I love it.

Yes, this is it. This is it's all about you. Yeah, this is the margarita. We have four fabulous flavors. This is passion fruit, rose, and guava. And we have a cucumber one, which is my favorite one, the cool breeze, which is cucumber mint, leachy, and elder flower. We have a great one, Cocoa, which is pineapple, coconut.

at lemon, grass and ginger, and another one that's watermelon, mint, basil, and camomile. But they're lightly sparkling. No one wants too much gas. They're low in sugar. You know, only nine grams of sugar. All natural. Real juice. Everything we do is very clean.

Listen, so a baby could drink it. Yeah. And people use it as a mixer as well. It's just nice. When you're out of party, you have something in your hand. Yeah. And it looks like... You know, the cans are super pretty.

You know, they have the gold ends. We did everything very elevated. And I think, you know, people want to feel part of something, right? For sure. Part of a community. People are choosing not to drink. Is it because they're doing mushrooms? I don't know.

Maybe. Maybe. Whatever it is, I'm all about it. Well, being sober right now is a big thing. It's not, you're right. It's a big, trendy thing right now. And honestly, I think being sober is the way to go because who wants to feel like shit in the morning? No.

They're showing things that, I mean, alcohol, they call it detox for a reason if you drink too much alcohol, right? You have to detox. It's a toxin. Yes. It affects your brain. Of course. Your skin looks like shit. I don't care when anyone says.

I do better on Housewives and in life in general because I have an unbelievable memory because I didn't drink. Yeah, of course, because when you know, I could tell you all the times that I've done some crazy shit just drinking. Exactly. And then your memory, I just blame it on drinking. I'm like, nobody knows, but they know. They know. They know what's going on. But the drinking is no, boy, no.

No. So with, okay, so with your, so not only that, do you use the platform for being on TV? Like, is this ever on the Housewives? Yes, it has been on the Housewives. It's a great place to launch a brand. I think a lot of people launch a brand and don't realize how hard it is. There's a lot of Housewife brands that fail. I have very successful brands.

I built huge companies before I got on Housewives. I have a brand in Walmart that I've had forever. It's called Candy Couture. It's Beauty Tools. It was an offshoot in my other company, Macbeth Collection, which I started in 1999. Wow. Yeah, and it's still around. And it's still your company.

You can sell it off, nothing like that. Yeah, yeah. No. So you're literally, you're everywhere. You're literally everywhere. Yes, yes, yes. That is incredible. And I love that.

And listen, it's had pitfalls. It's had highs, it's had lows. It's had everything. But that's all licensed. You know, I get paid on royalty, but I still own it. Every business. I mean, let's talk about a little bit about business, too. You know, it looks glamorous on TV.

It really does. Your life looks glamorous. Yes, they show like the highs and lows. But have there been pitfalls? I know you talked a little bit about it. Have there been pitfalls? Yes. I mean, you know, of course.

And I've talked around the show and people, like, you don't really talk about it. Business is not easy. There's times that you couldn't make payroll. People are screwing you out of money. So then you're having a hard time paying someone else. It's not easy. Everything on Instagram is not always the way it is with business, right? People think there's an overnight success. There is no overnight success. There's no overnight success. This has been a long time in the making. Everything I've done in life, you know, building my brand. And my brand was huge. And then COVID hit.

I had an amazing luggage line. That licensee went out of business. You know, my clothing line was unbelievable. It was fun. It was like preppy, cute and adorable. Well, that licensee got me in a horrible lawsuit with Vineyard Vines. And that literally almost did bankrupt the company. You know, I got out of it.

But, you know, things happen. So it's not easy. Yeah, but I love, I'll tell you just listening to you, I love how you're able to pivot. Not a lot of people are able to do that. No, people get stuck. They get stuck and then they can't move. But you pivot.

You literally have, it doesn't work. And it does work. Like that's the reality about being an entrepreneur. That sometimes it doesn't work. But our greatest success are our greatest failures. Because tell me, give me one good lesson that you've learned along the way from your failures. Oh, my God. You are not good at everything.

And hire people with the opposite skill set that you have. You hire for what you're not good at. Yes. I feel like people think they could be good at everything. and they're so controlling. Yeah. I know what I'm, it's more important to know what you're not good at.

And I think that's the most important lesson. I love that. Say that again, because so many times we get our egos in the way. No, not me. Oh my God. I love to delegate.

I'm actually maybe a lazy bitch. I don't know. But I'm just saying, I like that better. Can you do this? Yes, exactly. No, I think it's more important to know what you're not good at.

Yes, of course. Yeah, than knowing what you're good at. I know what I'm good at. And by the way, I'm great at a decent amount of things. but I really suck at most things. Yeah, the same thing. I always say that I go,

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. And really, my only superpower is I take other people's shit and make it better. Why you reinvent the wheel? Oh, you're so right. That's what I say. Call it what you want, but I know I'm not stupid. I'm just going to take the idea that works,

and I'm going to use it and, you know, make it even better. You can elevate it and make it better. Why not? I agree. I've said that a lot of times. And people like, that's stealing. No, it's not. It's not stealing it.

It's being smart, actually, because if it isn't broken, why are you going to fix it? Exactly. Just make it better. It's true. I mean, speaking of better, you look incredible. Oh, thank you so much.

Yes, I mean, I've had a nice little amount of work. I'm not going to lie. Who cares? Listen, I've had a facelift. I love it. You know, you get older. I will say that's the scrutiny of television is unbearable. I think it's so funny.

I thank God have very thick skin. I got to, you know, I was in a bad place when I first got on the show. I was like chubby, menopausal. Thank God I have a great husband who loves me. I don't know what you mean chubby. That's a little chubby, but it's okay. Voluptuous. I was voluptuous.

This is a voluptuous sex kitten. Thick. That's the new thing. Thick. You're thick. Yes, I was thicker. I was thicker, big boobs and everything else. But you know what?

Not a big deal. But then I was like, why did I let myself go on television like this? Why didn't someone tell me my family let me have a facelift? I was like, Joe, I'm going to kill you. But, you know, I've had a facelift. I'm totally on the compounded sema glutide, life changing after menopause. Love it. You know, my cholesterol is low, feel good.

I had a breast reduction, much to the chagrin in my husband. and a lift because my nips were like cheeseburgers, you know, hanging down. Yeah, so, you know, I've done some things. Who cares? I don't care. Me too. I have not had lightbo suction. I haven't done lipo.

I have not had lipos suction. I have not had a tummy tuck. Yeah, no, me either. I've done the boobs. I've not done my nose. Mm-mm. Haven't done the nose. I've gotten scrutiny about it.

No nose. No, your nose looks good. No, but people think I had a note. I didn't. I use filler, Botox. I have fake hair, fake tan. love the semi-glutide. Yes, I love a semi-glutide.

I mean, that, I'm sorry, that has changed, life-changing. I agree. And if you could look good and feel good, why not do it? And yes, I feel the exact same way. Whose fucking business is it anyway? No one. But though I did get naked in the doctor's office the other day where I go from when I had the semi-glotide.

My girlfriend said to me, oh, you have no way I say more your ass is to sick. And I was like, all right, come on. I mean, you know, I'll do some squats. You can put filler. Filler. Am I yes? Yeah, you can put filler in there. No, I don't need you do.

Yes, you can. And you can put, I do it. I put, oh, God, what is it? It's not voluma. It's a part, I, in your butt. Yes, you can put it in your butt. It's either that or a BBL. No, I'm not doing that shit.

Not doing the BBA. No, no, no, no. I don't know. I feel like at my age, you know, when I was younger, you know, I want to look more of a voluptuous. I think now I like my thin ladies who launch a Breezed Socialite look. I think that's more my style at this point. You have to be honest.

Aging. Listen, you have to be honest with me. So when people are like, oh my God, Marge, you're so skinny. don't you like inside love it that they're saying it you're like no I'm not but inside you're like yes no I like it I like listen growing up because I love it yes I love it growing up I was very thin yeah when I got married the first time I was very thin but I happen to have huge boobs when you have naturally huge boobs no one thinks you're thin though I you know I weigh the same exact thing I did when I first got married yeah you know in 1994 FYI um very long time ago

and and I was great I was I was thin had my son I bet bounce right back but then you know a few years after that you know I was I was packing on the pounds menopause it forget it I was like I cannot drop anything I was like why you do it the natural way the natural way what's the what's the natural way never never eat a meal again I couldn't do it one care one cell anyway once you have menopause I think you know people think you have to look good where is this written you have to suffer it's not written I don't know I like I do not suffer well that is my that is my That is my tagline of life.

March does not suffer well. I don't believe you. I will do anything not to suffer. Listen, I'll do anything, literally anything to stay younger. I'm looking for, I just went last night and I saw Death Becomes Her. Okay, that's the funniest thing. I love Death Becomes Her. I actually watch the movie again just so before I go see that.

That I need to find, I need to find this person. The potion, I need the potion. I really, that whole entire play, I was sitting there thinking the whole show. I'm like, this is me. This is 100% me. Did you ever watch the movie? Yeah, of course I said. Isn't that the best thing in the whole world?

Hysterical. And then last night I could not stop laughing. It was such a breath of fresh air, but that is me. And I'm unapologetic about it. I don't care. I get scrutiny all the time. But, you know, I'm at a point in my life. I don't give a shit.

Do you know what aging gracefully is, feeling the best you could possibly feel? Of course. That's gracefully. Defined by yourself, not by everybody else. Exactly. You have to make yourself happy. Of course, first, you and then everybody else. Exactly.

So what about the scrutiny? that you get from the show because I'm sure this time. Oh my God, it's classic. It's classic. What's your favorite remarks somebody has said? I mean, people, a favorite remark. Or the craziest shit they've ever said to you. Well, crazy as they say crazy things all the time because I used to be like too chubby

for them and everything else or I should get a face. And then I got a facelift and lost weight and everything. And now I'm a bobblehead. You know, I'm too thin. I'm, you know, I get a lot where they say my kids hate me that they love to shoot that card. And by the way, I don't put my kids on the show because I originally had come out and said two of my kids were not talking to me when I had gotten divorced. And people are like, they love to tell me I don't have a child. You know, like they really know. I'm like, dude, I gave birth. You know what I mean?

And yes, I'm always with my son and everything else. You know, they think they know so much about you. But I like to keep those things very private. So those that, that like I'm just like you guys are nuts. But I don't ever put my kids on social media. But, you know, my insulting things, I think are kind of funny because I love to, like, go back to them because have you ever seen these people that insult you? Yes, of course. They say weird things to the bizarre things all the time. Yes, I had one this morning, this woman.

I'm going to say her name. I don't care. Kimberly O'Reilly. Kimberly O'Reilly. Do you even know her? No, I don't know her. But I had to say, she sends constantly sends me messages on Facebook Messenger. Constantly.

And now, by the way, there's a ton of people named Kimberley. I'm really O'Reilly so I don't even care if I'm outing her because she is no shame she told me she said to me it's freedom of speech it's a free country She could say whatever she wants to me so I love to you know sometimes I'll banter back there because every picture I post this woman has to comment Amahoe um trout mouth um who am I to go out to dinner so much I'm disgusting um you know all these horrible things so it's like Kimberly you know, you're clearly obsessed with me. I'm so sorry. You know, I write back something, whatever. It's like the funniest thing.

So this morning she said she could sleep at night because she's not a tramp like I am. And I said, you should be so lucky to be a tramp like I am. You know, you could elevate your life. You're living with like nine cats. I mean, I was like, you know, I was just like, you know, if you can't work your way of the top, Kimberly, at least try and sleep your way at the top.

Do whatever you got to do. Yeah, I work my way of the top. Kimberly, Kimberly, she does this on a day. This is part of her daily. It's her daily routine. Kimberly just has, like, she's had better. I used to have Vera doing it all the time. I mean, I have like my, I have a good slew of women who love to do this.

I think the best line that I recently heard you say, what was you and Teresa were fighting or something? Who was she fighting with? Who was March fighting with? And she goes, I fucked the plumber. Oh, yeah, that was Teresa. That was Teresa. Yeah.

And she's like, you sleep the, I'm like, you're very, I fuck the plumber. I love to fuck the plumber. Who doesn't want to fuck the plumber? My plumber. I love him. I'm obsessed with him. I've a wonderful marriage. I mean, I know my house is always going to be fixed. I mean, she had more sewage problems than I've ever seen. I mean, she could barely sell that house. If you drove on the property, it reaped. Do you think that you guys will ever be friends? Never. I will never acknowledge her again. I will never look at her again. I don't want to

have anything to do with her. Never in a million years. I wish her no ill, by the way. She has horrible issues. And I pray that she gets out of them for this day because I did have a relationship with her at one point so I don't want anything bad to happen to her her daughters or her family her husband I could give two shits what happens to him um but never have a relationship with her again yeah that those days that ship has sailed that's a tough I mean that's never as definitive oh yeah yeah yeah by the way when you're dead to me you're dead oh and that's it and she's dead to me I have that like I always give people second third no I've given her yeah no I know you have I mean the girls have my she orchestrated having my hair pulled she's thrown an entire table of

food it may, they've done horrible, hard with it. They've had endless chances. And here you go, it's not scripted. This is like real shit that happened to you. Real stuff. This is like grown women doing this. Grown, I mean, you know, toddlers and adult bodies, yes, but yes. I cannot. Toddlers and tiara's in adult bodies. So like you, I'm also divorced. So I have three kids, I have two kids from a previous husband. And, and I saw like you had a very good relationship with your ex-husband. Yes, excellent. So do I, with my, with, my ex-husband's a little dysfunctional. You might find him in my kitchen like cooking. It's bizarre. He does come. That's okay. That's okay. It's better that way. It is better because I spent a lot of

years fighting with him. So it's a much more functional relationship now. But your husband, from what I remember, seems to be very similar to my husband. Very like he, my husband likes to let me shine. Well, I don't know if he lets me, but I just, no, he does. He's my biggest fan. He's the fix-it guy. You know, if my hair looks funny, he'll be the one. Sometimes, you know, my weave is falling out. He'll sew it right back in. That's the way my husband is. Super supportive. So do you think it's important in every relationship to have a supportive husband? Do you think, what do you think about that? I think if you're married to women like yourself and myself, you have to have a very supportive, confident, secure husband, not someone who wants to be competitive. Yeah. And just a great partner. Yes.

And a great friend. And, you know, an all around great guy. You know, thank God my husband. He's a regular, secure man who doesn't try and pump him down. Who does all of those things with me? You know, he's, same thing. Fix me making sure I'm good. He, you know, he was in the, he gave Lexi away at her wedding. I mean, you know, he was in the delivery room with us with Lexi,

filming her, giving birth. We're all, you know, he's like the most manliest man who's like half a girl. Yeah. And I'm so blessed. Like, I have everything great with him. And I'm so, I mean, I thank God. for every day for him yeah for i think alpha females we need that we need somebody that stands next us not in front of us not behind us but right next because my husband will pull the plug if he goes

too far like he'll give me just enough rope but not enough to hang myself no oh absolutely not and he's still you know he's still very manly people like oh you roll right over him i go no i don't roll right over him he knows you know he'll just give his limits and i know when i have to dial it back oh i know i know i know what i'm like joe you know all he has to do is look at me one thing you know and if he a fit I believe me I know when it's oh I know one to shut it yes people say it about me all the time oh you run all over Seth I'm like oh if you only really knew because when he looks I know to shut it just shut it exactly don't even don't even try because at the end of the day you know we do not that we have

gender rules but I definitely know my place I'll push the limit a little bit but it's okay my husband lets me do it it's okay exactly we're a partnership and he knows who we married and I know who I married exactly I love yes and that's very important I it's so important to have a healthy relationship you know where I'm gonna shine all the time and he's gonna let me shine. Exactly. No, it is so important.

No, it's very important. Yes. So what's next for you? Where are you going? I mean, you have so many different things under your belt. So what's like something else you really want to achieve? What's on another? I mean, I think I want to grow a soiré, very large.

I think this is the most important thing in my career right now with myself and Lexi. I also, Lexi and I have started traveling with women, other women who are entrepreneurs, who are at different stages in their life. We had just come home from Marrakesh, from Marra. from Morocco. Did you like it? It was one of my best trips in my life. Did you?

I felt guilty telling my husband that. It was just top two trips in my life. We, 18 women, two glamour gays, because you have to have them. That's not the best trip in my life. It was not one argument. Everybody was very different. I had a beautiful handbag designer from Venice. I had.

Hannah? Do you have Hannah? No, that's actually. tattoo. I've had forever, but it's like so faded. It looks like it. It looks like it. It was supposed to look like Kent. It's there for 18 years already. We had a princess from Nigeria. I had an architect from Miami. I had a woman who I, my friend Vicky Farah, who I was assistant to as her assistant dress design. We had women from all different stages of life who uplifted each other. So I think I, I'm also, Lexington and I want to focus on doing girls trips that are reinventing the girls' trips.

Years ago, girls' trips were about going out all night, meeting guys, drunken nights. This is about uplifting women, bonding, talking about business, how to do things differently, how to change the world, you know, just like really inspiring things. And, you know, with our glamour gaze and doing things out of the box. Our next trip we're going to India next year. I mean, people want to go to Thailand, but now with the whole White Lotus thing, I know it's going to be way too popular. All right, you should come. These women.

are so magnificent and it was funny because I'd put it on Instagram originally and some women signed up you know were from Instagram that I we really didn't know each other that they had heard about it and it was so great but now we have a crew you can't go with more than like 20 people so you know when people drop up you know we could add a few people in obviously like yourself but it was just so special and we're and now we're getting together Saturday night we just love each other where it's we created a community and I think creating a community of like-minded people that makes so much done and I think that's so important I love that Lexi is like she's your best friend I love my God she's like my sister my best

friend I get annoying people think I'm her mother I'm like okay I'm not like I didn't give birth 13 but let's like calm it down people but no she's like I could not do anything without Lexi I am so blessed that she helped you know I know her since she's a younger much younger woman she's helped me grow my companies you know we do everything together we actually live on the same currently which is so funny and she's here with you today and she's here with me today and the funny thing is she goes home at night with her son who's adorable he's six I get to be with him every day and then I call it she leaves the house and

then I call her like five minutes I'm like like spah bu bu bu buh but where you know we have such a bond I love that because you know what I've learned as I've gotten more seasoned yes I'm not gonna say older we're seasoned that's a good line I've right season not older I've learned that the people that are around you you want them to be in your inner circle, people that have been around for a long time. People come and go, like the people I've met along the way, I don't know. But if you're not around me 10 plus years more, I really just don't want to do business with you.

I don't trust you. People have motives. And when you have good people, like-minded women, then there's no competition. Because unfortunately, the doubt, like I love, listen, I'm a huge women advocate, but the one thing I do know about women is they are jealous. And jealousy breeds contempt. So you want to surround yourself with women that are rooting. for you. Yes, I agree with that. And we have to change that narrative. Yes, we need to change the

mindset of women. Yes. Because every, there's enough room for everyone started showing. Everybody lift each other up. And that's why I love this woman, this trip we had, because there was none of that. Yes, I'm a woman that loves, like, I'm, I am a girl's girl. I never used to be, but I prefer to do business with women. Yes, and I love it. And listen, I love men just as much. Same, same. They're 50% of the population. Yeah. They're amazing. And we, and we need them in. But I just think, I do love women so much. I love this. This girl's trip was amazing.

Everybody dressed up. Everybody showed up. Everybody was inspiring to each other. And I think this really, because I'm on a show with competitive women. Not my friends, I don't feel like, but other women who want to tear each other down. So I think this just changed my outlook so much. It was so refreshing and healing for my soul that I could be around women like this. So I enjoyed it so much more.

I think it exists. And you're around women. It does exist. It does. exists and it's nice to be around like-minded women that have good intentions. And it's like an eat-pray love trip. It was. It really was. I need an eat-pray love trip. It was. And you're just, it's mind-body and soul. Yeah, we didn't have, we didn't have any love, thank God, because I think my husband would have a breakdown. We loved each other. I love each other. Yes, I know, no, it was,

but it was like an eat-pray love trip. I said some, some of the women I called them the Catholic Olympics, because they were religious, they were the Catholic Olympics. We had the Italian handbag connection. We had two women called the Angelo's. We had the glamour gaze. We had like little groups within the groups. I love it. I absolutely love it. And you're going to do another. We're doing another trip. Yeah. I think we're going to do it next February. We're going to do India.

Oh, India's going to, India will really be like inspirational. It'll just feel like there's so much religion there and just everything. Yes, it's like spiritual. It's great for shopping. It's, you know, it's design driven. It's eating. You know what? And it's also out of the box. And it'll be great. It'll be great for the soul. And after these trips. After the, what are you trying to do with this platform in general? Like what are you, like what's the after?

So you guys stay in touch. Are you doing like- We stay in touch. We do stuff, you know what it is? And then we all inspire each other. We get involved in charities. You know, some of the women are involved in charities. I'm going, you know, I've been very blessed when the women is involved in the Andre

Bacheli Foundation. I'm going to go with, you know, this summer and go do that with them. So everybody stays connected and helps each other. So we get to do charitable things. We just do all things like that, which is really. really great. Of course. And just lift each other up. Love it. I love it. Let's switch gears for a second. Let's talk about your Macbeth business. It was a $50 million business. Yes. Yes. By the way, I didn't get all the $50 million. I was paid on royalty. I'm just saying that right now.

I wish I did, but I didn't. Let's talk about that. How did this come to, like, how did this come to fruition? Literally at my kitchen table. I, after I had my son, I was like, there's no great storage solutions. You know, I was very, I always love like a preppy vibe. You know what I'm saying? Like a preppy chic vibe. It just goes with everything. Yeah, it just went with everything. I always loved color.

And I was, you know, I went to FIT. I was into prints and patterns. So at my kitchen table, I had done it with a friend. We would decoupage. I know it sounds so crazy. Like, you know, you know, decoupages, right? No, I don't know anybody. I know nobody.

I'm just like. Okay, okay, that's even funnier. DeCupage is the art of taking like a wallpaper. We used to do vintage wallpaper or paper, yes, and putting it on. I know what is. I know it's, yes, I know exactly. And attaching it, like, you know, pieces, three-divensional. And we would attach it to buckets and metal shapes.

And we made it beautiful. But we designed our own prints. Originally, we started vintage wallpaper. So I said, let me go sell it to the local kid store. Because these metal buckets, they look great in someone's house. And the store sold out in a week. I was smart enough to put myself on the gift show, New York gift show. Because they were opening up a new division.

A few months later, we got on the gift show. I said, holy crap, how are we going to do this? I hired the local housekeepers. I'm not kidding you, to make these things. Do we have to do? Do we have to do? We get there. The first show, we do like $100,000 in sales.

It's like absolutely insane. Stores were loving it. It was very shabby, shiki. You know what I'm saying? The look, because we did vintage wallpaper. I was like, holy shit, how am I going to get enough wallpaper? I was like, you know, do you want florals? Do you want this?

And we're in business. I had to, my ex-husband had to help us. I mean, I was buying the buckets at Home Depot. Then I had to, like, figure out. Then I got it from a manufacturer in Texas. Then I looked down the bottom. they were getting it from India. Then I had to get a connection in India.

You know, and it blew up. And you're orchestrated in this whole thing. I orchestrated the whole thing. And it blew up into a very large business. We added on things. Then we designed all our own prints. And it really blew up. We were on Oprah's O list, I think like nine times.

Oprah's favorite things. We had an amazing company. But we were at the upper level. You know what I'm saying? We were in Sacks. We were here. We were there. It was all custom.

Like if you wanted your initials or your kids' names on it. We could monogram it. We could do this. Everything was very customized. And it was hard to get past a certain level. So a licensing agent had come to us at one point and said, you know, your look is so great. It's unique.

It's so colorful. The bigger stores want you. I want you license out the brand. I'm like, I don't want to sell the mass. And he's like, that's where all the money is. Yeah. I took a meeting and right away, we started licensing. I mean, literally in the first week, we got deals all over the place.

And it really blew up my company. How long did it run for? It's still in existence. Did you sell it? No. You didn't sell it. No, I didn't sell it. But we were huge.

And then there was a lot of me-toes. Right. And we fell off a little. Wow. I mean, we were the first female brand in Walmart with printed iPhone cases. You know, the headphones, the big headphones. I was in 2011. We were doing $10 million in Walmart and caps.

That's a lot on, you know. So progressive, too. Very progressive. on things that retailed for five bucks. You know what I mean? It was a little crazy. You should feel, I mean, look at all the things you've done. No, I feel very impressed, but I'm always like, what's next?

You know, I think women and people and entrepreneurs are always like, well, what's next? What's next? What's next? What's next? What's next? Yeah. When is enough enough? You know, I don't know. You just keep on moving. You keep hustling. You want, you know, I feel creative. And I'm just like, all right, we did that. And, yeah, and just. I don't think it ever is enough. like women like you and I it's just I'm always looking for not the next best thing but I

would say the next thing I mean we always I always I have a million ideas that's the other thing I'm just like do I have ADD what's going on no it's your brain doesn't stop it doesn't stop them I just like the ideas the idea is the idea is the idea yeah it just it that's just I say my husband has the opposite of ADA yeah that overfocuses I'm like can you not multitask no no no no no there's no he's texting and he cannot talk he's on the computer he cannot look away it's just a very single focus where I can do a whole bunch of things at one time and be successful while doing it so let me ask you okay so now how much longer on the housewives is there a time I don't know because I don't even know when we're going back really well they said we're not

you know there's nothing no discussion till 2026 our show took a very bad turn at the end and from ratings or just no no no our ratings are sick we have the best rates I know you guys are like the most volatile no I say we're the most volatile not something to be be proud of but our ratings are very good our friendships are not and it ended on a very bad note it ended on a bad note and I think there's some changes coming yeah and we're not sure what's going to happen are you friendly with any of the other housewives um at the franchises or mine um either or yeah very close with people on my show what about the other ones from like beverly hills or you know friendly you know know some of the women on beverly hills of course but like Atlanta and Atlanta yes I mean

Fadra, I love Fadra, we're very friendly. You know, we talk on the phone. You know, Cynthia Bailey, obviously. She's such a lady. Cynthia Bailey, lovely. Derinda and I are very good friends. All the previous New York ladies, very good friends with all of them. Even the current New York ladies, Erin Leachy's site, all of them.

I was just on Brin's Pocket. You know, it is a sorority. Yeah. It is a shared experience that... Only you guys understand. Only we understand. And it is a sorority. That's it.

I mean, look, regardless, the experience in itself to say that, what is it one person? I mean, it's not, what's the chances that somebody's going on the housewives? It's, you know, there's been a hundred something of us total across all the franchises across 16 years. Yeah, which is a very, very low percentage. It's a very low percentage of women. So, I mean, what a lucky experience. I wouldn't say luck. It's not luck, talent too.

Talent got you there. But, um. I wouldn't say talent. All right. I would say, talent for you in your hands. Yes, yes. I would just say, you know, it's a great, great experience. It's been very, it's an amazing ride.

And, yeah, it's, listen, it has celebrated women of a certain age. I mean, it's all women, so you can't, which is sad. And women of a certain age. Yeah, but it is sad that, you know, especially in your series or in your group, that all of you can't find some kind of common ground to be like, you know what, we are women, we've been able to go through this journey together. Let's put everything aside and just kind of... We've tried that, yes, and I agree.

I agree with you. It's very sad that has come to that. It is very sad. But I also know at some point in your life, you have to cut the bullshit and just stop and then just cut the toxicity out of it. It's true. I think it just got to, our show got to a point of where it just took a turn.

What is your definition of success? What does that look like for you? My definition of success is to see my, I feel I have success because my family's happy. My definition of success is seeing my family happy and healthy. And when I do feel I'm successful, it's not about the money. It's just about that everyone in my family is happy and healthy and that we could sit down to a dinner together.

I do sleep well at night. I'm not going to lie, I do sleep very well. And I wake up with a smile on my face every day. My husband wakes up in a good mood every day. And that's not saying we don't have stress. Everybody has stress. Everyone has endless stress, but I do feel like I have a, I'm very blessed with a successful, beautiful life. When I could say everyone laughing, you know, my kids together, everyone, everybody's in a good place. Yeah.

You know, and I think that's the definition of success for me. I agree. I don't think it has anything to do with money. I think it's about family and the company. No, it's about everybody feeling good. If you could take back one moment, one moment when you were on, our. your whole um just the whole journey that you've been on what moment would you take back if any maybe none would i take back one moment or redo it redo one moment let me think of all the maybe not craziness um maybe just one when i had my hair pulled by daniel that scene but i don't know maybe would she have still pulled my hair if i didn't throw the water in her face because it was 11 minutes later

maybe just that one day. That one day that was so violent. I mean, she pulled my hair from behind. That just one day, I wish that day never happened. Fair enough. Fair enough. That was pretty horrible. And if you could do it all over again, would you be a reality star?

Oh, absolutely. 100%. A thousand percent. A thousand percent. It's been an amazing ride. I've had so many amazing, interesting, fun experiences, met wonderful people. It's an unbelievable. platform. You are unbelievable. Oh, you are so great. Thank you. So are you. Because I think the misconception

is when you think of housewife, you think of like someone that doesn't work and you're just collecting on your husband's money. It's kind of like what you think of, right? That's... Yes, yes, yes. But that's not who you are at all. No, not at all. You're not. You're a real bill. You're an entrepreneur, very successful, not just, you know, throwing products out there. You've really created companies. You have been able to elevate. You've been able to, you know, maintain a family, a husband, you know, TV life, how do you keep that separate though? Two hundred times. No, no.

How are you able to kind of keep, you know, that life separate from your real life? Which they're both kind of real. They are. They're both real. It was very, very important in me. I'm very super protective over that part of my life. That's very much my peace. And that comes before everything.

That is, without a doubt, everything to me, you're as happy as your unhappiest child, right? And as long as they're okay, you know, they didn't ask for this. So I think it was very a strict line in the sand is just like they have to be good. What do they think about you? Do they think you're like the coolest mom ever? Oh, well, they're old. You know, they're old. And no, do they think I'm the coolest mom ever?

No, not at all. They think I'm TMI Marge. I think they think that, you know, they love me very much. They think, you know, I'm great, but they think my voice is piercing. things. I interfere. You know, but yes, do they love me? I talk to them, you know, every single day, 27 times. I love that. Yeah, I call them all the time. You know, I say anything. I'm sure they're so proud of you. Look at, look what you've been able to do. For sure. For sure. It's just a mom thing. Yeah, we're, you know, we're, uh, we're very bonded. I'll say that.

We're very, very bonded and have a very intimate relationship, and I'm very blessed. Everything you said is just, it's remarkable. And just hearing all, I did not know some of your successes. I actually. Thank you. I did not know. No, I didn't know, but I'm so impressed just talking to you and hearing about your journey and everything you've gone through. Are you, I have to ask you, I don't know this. Are you an only child? I'm an only child. So am I. Are you an only child? Yeah, I can usually sniff them. You can? Is that, is that what it is? Do only children feel like they have, and from single mothers and your, you know, your poor mother had to go through that

horrible tragedy? Yeah, it is. I, yes, I think that only children, we, we grow up, it's just us. I don't, I don't think I ever wanted a brother. I know I didn't want a brother or sister. And growing up in an environment where I was my mom's everything. Yes, exactly. And did you feel responsible for her a little bit or no? Of course. Yeah, and that's, I think that happens.

Even today, like, of course. Me too. But I'll tell you, one of the greatest things about being successful is being able to share that success and wealth with my mom. No, it's true. It absolutely is true. I agree with you. Yeah.

I learn that, I learn, I love, I love her. She's amazing, but I learned very early on that you have one. set of parents in this lifetime. You know, you can't pick and choose who they are. But, you know, the tools and the lessons and the knowledge that she has given me, yeah, were there some shitty time? Did I always agree with the things she did? No, I didn't. Do I think she's a little cuckoo? Yeah, she put her a little cuckoo. But you know what? I love her. And without her, I would never be able to accomplish half the things that. You're absolutely right. I say that all the time. Like, people are like, you throw a Mardi-Singer under the bus. You said she drank. I was like, well, that's true.

Yeah, it is true. But I also say of all the amazing. thing she did. She always told me I could do whatever I want to do. I could be whatever I want to be. She instilled so much confidence in me. She never put me down. You know, she gave me so many amazing tools to be successful. So, you know, two things can be true. So as we close down, you have been an incredible guest. I love the conversation. Really, I resignate. I feel like we really have so much in common. No, we're so bonded. We're so much in common. So insane. Where would people find you number one okay they'll find me um obviously on instagram the real margaret josephs and you can find me there sware you can find a drink sware dot com and i think that's probably the easiest

place to find me i love that and then for and then let's close out with a quote what's your favorite quote like a favorite quote you use or say or something i have two funny quotes say it well one is this two shall pass because you know everything sky's not falling yeah this sky's not falling and time is a suggestion. I love it. That was my big line in Morocco. Anytime anybody would yell at me, time is a suggestion. I love it. Well, there you have it. An entrepreneur, a true Belf, I mean a woman of all trades. She's just amazing, so sweet, unapologetically herself. Marge, thank you for spending some time with me. It's been incredible. Thank you so much. I'm so grateful. Thank you. And I really love his podcast. Amazing. Congratulations.

You have to come again. I'm coming again. I'm coming again. I'm We're going to come from India. Or India. That's right. You can interview all the ladies. All of, I love it. Well, thank you for coming. Thank you.