Mention It All - A Whole New Side Of Charleston Ft. Leva Bonaparte

Episode Date: November 29, 2022

Fresh off the premiere of her new show, Leva Bonaparte joins Dylan to talk all things Southern Hospitality. She shares why, after years of offers, it finally felt like the right time to open up her business to cameras, and how making this show was different from filming Southern Charm. She also responds to Vanderpump Rules comparisons, and viral rumors that the staff featured on the show don’t actually work for her, and explains what makes this group so special. Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ha ha, laugh, funny. Mention It All. A Bravo by Betches podcast. We don't say that, but now we said it. With Dylan Hafer. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast. I'm Dylan Hafer, and today I am so excited to be chatting with the star of Southern Charm

and now the star of Southern Hospitality Monday nights on Bravo. Please welcome Leva Bonaparte. Hi, Leva. Hi, Dylan. Nice to meet you, officially. Nice to meet you too. You have a brand new show on Bravo. It's now out there in the world.

It's been talked about, rumored for a long time. We got to see a little sneak peek at BravoCon time. Now it's finally here. How are you feeling about Southern hospitality? I'm so excited. I mean, I had to keep my mouth shut and I'm not good at that for a really long time. I'm really not good at that. Yeah, so I'm really excited for you guys to see it.

It's been a long time coming. I mean, there have been different, you know, production companies that have come to us over the years, you know, wanting to peek into our business or whatever. It was just never the right time for me. But now it is. And I'm just so excited. And now, you know, the same people that worked for me back then are just, you know, more interesting, I guess you could say. Yeah. So you say that it's been something that's coming.

up over the years and obviously you joined Southern Charm a couple years ago now. So that had been a conversation that had happened separate from Bravo, I guess, before you ever were on Southern Charm. Yeah, I mean, we just had different, you know, there's people always just like looking for shows or whatever. And I think that, you know, when Southern Charm started, whatever, eight years ago, different production companies came up to us. They were like, we want to do a show, we want to do a show. And I was like, no, that's like not for me. We were just like in building mode, newly married. I was like struggling getting pregnant. I was like I, you know, young like, I don't want to, you know, but now I'm just like in my 40s and I don't give a fuck. And so I'm like, all right,

come on in, whatever. Like I don't at this point I don't care. And I think I also getting like my feet wet with Southern Charm allowed me to have, you know, like, listen, I live in, I live in a state of anxiety, but it was, it allowed me to sort of like, okay, these are some of the, the thing, the challenges that I'll have, you know, opening sort of my, my business to the world, you know, like. Yeah. That makes sense that both in your, in your business, you had had more time to grow and establish it, but then also you weren't a stranger to the idea of reality TV.

So you're like, okay, I know I can handle this. So I at least have some concept of what it's going to be like when I, when they're inside my business. Exactly. It's like when they're inside my underwear drawer. Like, you know, it feels that. vulnerable when people come into your business and, you know, already I'll post one thing and they're like, oh, you should do this. Oh, you should do that. You know, and I'm just like,

oh, here we go. You know, so yeah, it's a lot because, you know, everyone wants to have an opinion about something that, like, you essentially really built and put your heart and soul into and, and like, staff that you put your heart and soul into, you know, that I'm also protective of, even though I do get angry with them. I'm also very protective of them. What was it for you the difference between filming for Southern Charm, where it's about your friend group and people, sort of your peers versus coming into Southern hospitality. And it's very much you are at the center as the boss on the show. And these people aren't, you know, you might have friendly relationships with them, but they're not your friends. Yeah. I mean, it's definitely a completely different dynamic.

But I wouldn't say, you know, at the end of the day, like, I've, I'm not. known some of these kids since before I had my son, you know, like they've been working for me like six years. Like it's like they may not be friends, but they're like, I feel like an aunt or a second mom or whatever. Like I've watched them grow and go through stuff and, you know, you'll, you'll meet like, for example, like, you know, one of my staff, Lucia that like she worked for me, went and had a child, came back. Like, it's a lot, you know. So I definitely, it's an equally sort of like an equal connection in terms of they may not be my, you know, my social circle, but I'm very close knit to a lot of the staff because it's really like our Republic family, you know.

Some are newer, but most have been here for quite some time. And you can even see just in the premiere, which I was glad to get a chance to watch, like some of these people have things going on in their lives that you are, maybe not, you know, you have to set a boundary, I guess, when you are and aren't going to be involved. But you are, it's not just strictly a business relationship where there's no kind of back and forth about what's going on in their lives. Like you are at least aware of a lot of this stuff going on. Oh, yeah.

I mean, it's like, you know, people say, oh, it's, you know, this show's so vanderpump and it is. There's so many things about it. They're a very vanderpump-esque. But also, like, a lot of these kids come and work for us, you know, because they want almost like a like a mentor you know in business so like they all have these other businesses going on and they'll come and talk to me about it or they'll want to know like how can i how can i be in your business and like how can i do more and how did you get here you know they all know that like we built this all on

our own so they know that it wasn't like i'm the face of a business or i you know uh i i'm heavily invested and i'm just you know they know it's like it's our money it's our grit you know So a lot of them sort of came came to us working and wanting to sort of be able to have like a connection to picking our brains and all the things. So it's not just like they came as a bartender or server or VIP concierge. So it's a little bit more, I think, than Vanderpump because they kind of got like a boss and like a bit of a mentor and their business aspirations too. You know what I mean? It's a small town. The Republic is like a tiny little entrepreneurial hub, you know.

We're going to have, you're like, are we taking like a 10% cut of all those businesses? Yeah, I really should do that, honestly, at this point. I always tell them, I'm like, when this is all over, you guys better bring me some fucking flowers. All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the strawberry watermelon refresher. And the mango pineapple refresher with popping bobo. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast With berry flavors and cold foam Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire?

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like you could take about kind of mixing your rest or your hospitality business with reality TV. Yeah, I mean, I'm a big fan of almost like all shows Bravo. But yeah, Vanderpump I've watched like from the get. I love it. I think it's great. I love I met a bunch of them. I actually met Stossi like years ago. She came to Republic with, I think it was just her.

But I met her. She was really wonderful and sweet. And then at Bravo Con I met like a ton of the other cast. Katie and Lala and Sheena. Like they're all so great. The tombs. They're all really great. And really like genuine and transparent.

which I was shocked by after all these years. They were really like normal, nice, real humans. You know what I mean? Which I thought was like, I really was impressed by that, really kind, all of them and genuine. So that was like heartwarming to me because I was like, oh my gosh, I won't lose my kids to, you know, like these are, they're still like down to earth and normal and can have nice normal conversations. I was really happy about that. And of course, I'm a big fan. But with that said, I definitely think there's a ton of parallels, but I also think, you know,

I met a ton of people from below deck. And I think there's a lot of parallels with our show and below deck because, you know, unlike Vanderpump, it's like when you hit 10 o'clock on King Street, it's like chaos, right? So when you get into our business, you're at 10 o'clock, you're going to hit like 100 people around the corner. They're all waiting to get in line. They're drinking. They're, you know, high.

They don't want to get embarrassed. Like the egos are big. The club is packed. You're trying to, you know, make sure the table's on time. So it's kind of like, you know, all hands on deck. Like there's no more time from from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Like there's no time to dilly dattle or be in your feelings or have a fight with your boyfriend or not like be on point like mentally because the money is quick and the tables are quick. And like it's it's very easy to get triggered.

you know, people come to the door and they sort of want to like poke and prod and piss you off or start a fight. Like it's a lot. It's a lot that you have to, um, jungle in this business. So it kind of has that below deck and then it kind of has like the million dollar listing side of it because this is a money business. Like you don't sell, you don't stay. Right. I was, I was struck watching it that it really is that kind of like club atmosphere where you're, you're selling a table, you're selling a bottle. You're, you know, figuring out if we're full here, you're going to go up the street to this other place. We're going to get the money there. Like, it's not just like a restaurant where you're giving people their food and then they leave.

Like, it's, it really is kind of like building that nightlife experience for them and also making the money. Yes. And it's like our spaces. There's like four of them all on within like a four block radius on one street. Right. And this is the hospitality city. And so, you know, it's it also feels a little bit like the crew, like the Republic crew, like you do not mess with other businesses. you don't rep other businesses like you don't you know it's sort of even when they go out they'll

like ask me permission to like go to events like can we go we're gonna like what if we wear a public shirts i'm like you can go it's fine just don't promote for other people you know like is it gonna be okay like this this you know club really wants us all because i really have the it kids working for me so where they parties like really where everyone goes i didn't just hire you know like run in the mill like sort of bartenders and whoever. Like I hired these kids, A, they're like ambitious, B, they're gorgeous, C, they're interesting, you know, they're hardworking. You know, they have some stuff too.

Like, don't get me wrong. But they're really like who people want to hang out with. So like a lot of the time other places will want to hire them or have them come and like give them a table, you know, because people follow where they go. Right. It's competitive. Yeah. And we get in trouble a little bit a little bit, a little bit, a little bit.

So we have some little talks there where I'm like, no, you can't be like promoting for someone else. You can't be hosting other events. Like you're on Republic DMG team. So like you'll be on the other team. So yeah, we get a little bit of that. And but that creates us like, it's almost like the family, you know? Yeah. Right.

Like you have a responsibility. Like obviously you want to make your money, get your tips, whatever. But then also like the better everyone. does every, you know, the better you do, everyone's doing better. If they're going up the street to bourbon and bubbles, then that stays in the, you know, everybody's doing better. And at the end of the day, that's what you want. I tell them. And I really encourage them to like, it's like they're running their own tiny business. I'm like, in business, you just, when you're playing the long game, you don't piss off other business owners. You play with them in the same pool with the right rules. So like,

you know, it's hard to get them to understand that like, you know, bourbon and bubbles down the street, even though like that money's not going to your pocket, go ahead and send that money down. And then she'll send you some down. Like, that's how the world works. You know, you, you scratch my back. I scratch your back. So it's like little tiny business rules that they are learning, which to us seems so obvious. Like, oh, yeah, I'll take care of you, take care of me. Or like, you know, you do right by people. they do rifey you. But at their age, they're like, what?

What do you mean? And I'm like, guys, like, I can't with you. So it's stuff like that. And it's also just really a family. Like that sort of the way that we run the business is really based on like loyalty and valuing like the staff and everything. But they're also kind of like, that's made them besties because they all hang out together. They like spend every weekend together.

And it's kind of like, yeah, it's, it's. It's a little bit like the family business is really like, you know, they have to ask the family permission. Yeah. I could tell watching the premiere, like right away, you start to really get sort of the history that's going on in the group and some of the kind of relationship threads and all of this stuff. So it was, it felt obvious that there was, you know, a past here.

But there were some rumors. Like before we even saw a trailer or anything, people were saying like, oh, none of these people worked there. It's a, you know, there was a cast. All of this stuff. Yeah. What was your, like, did you, were you seeing that in real time? Because I mean, I don't know who has worked for you for how long, but obviously you know

these people. Yeah. I mean, it all actually stemmed from one particular person that we let go who was like spreading that rumor. And she'd worked for us for not very long, this particular person. I didn't know her very well. She didn't work for us for very long. And she actually tried to cast for the show and she wasn't picked up.

And so I think she got a little bit bitter about it and started just saying crazy things. But I actually loved it because I was like, this is hilarious. Like when they see like literally these, you know, half of them have been here before I had my son like literally six years ago. My son's turning five, you know? like they were there before I was even pregnant. So, yeah, this, you know, some of them have six, seven years under their belt. You know, Grace and obviously like when you see it, it'll seem like less because it was taped some time ago.

But even Grace was like, oh, I've worked for love by like four years. And I'm like, no, Grace, you've worked for me for like six years or seven years. It was before I was pregnant. So that's the only way I kind of like in my mind calculate it. But yeah, I specifically remember having that chat. even, you know, speaking to the first episode with Grace and Maddie, I'd had that chat with Grace and then I ended up having a chat with Maddie who actually worked down the road. When we first built out our condo before I got pregnant.

And I said, listen, if you, you know, you're smart, you're graduating college. If you really push at this, I'll bring you down to Republic. I remember having that talk. And that's when the Grace and Maddie sort of. Grace and Maddie are already such an interesting kind of duo at the center of these dynamics. And Grace specifically was just born to do this. Let's let me just say the way that scene in the first episode of her at her parents' house and when her mom comes down the stairs, it's like, oh my God, I know exactly who this girl is. And she is born to be on television.

Yeah, I mean, I've had, I had to have her literally, she was suspended from even being able to walk down to Republic because, and I think this is in that first episode, I'm not sure, but she was suspended from being able to walk patrons down from Bourbon and Bubbles to Republic because her and Maddie had a fight where they decided to throw water bottles at each other in the back of Republic. So, like, they both come out Friday night, like, basically, like, soaked because they're hurling water bottles at each other. I don't know what, you know, like also three of Maddie's roommates work at Republic. So I don't even know. I don't even care. All I know is I got the text. And I was just like, okay, so for the next two months, you're forbidden to walk down to the Republic.

You can't just go down there and beef with people and say like, oh, I was just trying to walk somebody in. Like, it's literally like hurting squirrels. But, you know, keeping toddlers apart and whatever. But I will say, like, grace sells. like nobody's business and so does Maddie you know so yeah like they can be a little tricky and difficult who knew just calling Maddie literally a month before you know grace from Toulom was going to be like World War II you know it's COVID I'm like all right Maddie come back down to Republic like not thinking anything thinking like grace was living her best life in Tulum and then it's like

snowballs into like more and more and more and more meanwhile they were like the dream team up at the front of republic. But speaking of the COVID thing, it's interesting. I was thinking about how you were filming your first season of Southern Charm when the world stopped in 2020. Like thinking about those scenes you had to film, you know, like through a window or like talking on headphones. You were like, you know, walking in the park.

Like obviously that was a unique time for the whole world. But especially with the business you're in, I imagine that getting the Southern Charmer, opportunity ended up being kind of great timing in terms of like you started this new other thing when you couldn't really focus on your hospitality business. Yeah, I mean, really, it was during Southern Charm. I actually remember the specific day. It was like a Tuesday morning.

And we decided, listen, like we are not going to be able to sustain four restaurants, restaurant clubs with like, you know, whatever, like 100 staff during COVID. Like we're just, it's not, we're going to go bankrupt. We just can't, you know, what are they going to do? do because like, you know, these people work off tips and people aren't coming in. And like, I remember I actually woke up and I said to the producer's Southern Charm that I couldn't film because I thought I was having a stroke or like some sort of heart attack because I, my right side of my body was like, could not move. So I went to the doctor and they were like,

you're fine. Like nothing's happening. Then I went to my chiropractor and he was like, you must have just been so tense on one side because I had to lay off. I mean, not I personally didn't do it, but, you know, our team had to lay off like a hundred people that morning. What I mean? And then had to create a go fund me because, you know, the unemployment was so, like, bogged up. So they couldn't get money right away. So we had to, like, raise money and also give out to make sure that they could make it

through the month until they hit unemployment. Like, it was very stressful. And then I was like, filming so on charge. And I was like, oh, my God, I can't. You know, and of course, there was like, you know, all the BLM stuff. And, you know, our street got hit so severely, you know, with the protests. And like, it was a lot. It was a lot.

I sometimes I'm like, oh, PTSD. But yeah, I mean, definitely I kind of was like chilling for a year because like we much, you know, the restaurants were really running on skeleton. But then a minute, Charleston didn't close for that long. And the minute Charleston opened back up, then there was no staff. So then it was literally me and Lamar, I was like, should just like jump behind the bar. I don't know. Lamar doesn't know what a bartend, but I do.

But yeah, it was just like, it was craziness. You know, we had managers bartending, managers cleaning bathrooms. Like it was just like everyone was doing everything. And, you know, some of the staff that will be on the show, like, you know, they were there through that. Maddie in particular, like, really held it down for Lamar and I. Because in the beginning, like, we're in our 40s and we were like, oh, it's dangerous for people in their 40s, you know, to be a exposed, like you could die. You know, we were like of the elderly, you know, an elderly group or whatever.

So Maddie and the 20-something-year-olds were like holding it down, you know. So there's all these like funny little bonds and that's why I say it's kind of like family. Like we've been through a lot, a lot of us. Yeah. I mean, that is such an sort of the way that all worked out. It is funny to think about like filming Southern Charm. You're like, okay, I'm trying to make sure all my, my. employees and everyone are good. Like, I can't think about what, like, Madison and Austin, like,

arguing with each other right now. I can't. Every time I'm on Southern time, I'm like, I can't. You don't even know what I'm dealing with over there. So, yeah, and I always say, like, then, you know, lower love I comes up. What the fuck! So, yeah. It was a tricky, tricky year. Obviously, neither one was filmed at the same time. But, um, yeah. now that you bring that up, it's like been kind of a crazy two or three years. Well, and with the restaurant business, obviously, when you're not filming for the show, that still is your day-to-day life. Like, that's your business.

That's 24-7, 365. So it's not just like, oh, I'm done filming this new project. Now I get to like never think about that again. Yeah. No, it's never that way. It's just like now I get to catch up on this other thing. And then I catch up on, I start to get my bearing. on that thing and then it's like okay now we're filming again and then I go back to like catching up

on that thing and like you know not even to mention the mom life part of it you know what I mean where I'm just like okay I have to do all the things with my son because it gets so busy during filming um you know so yeah it gets it gets really tricky to manage all the things I've learned to just do less my room's messy it's messy like the house is unclean it's not clean like which is not me I'm so with CD. Like producers have come over. I'm like, look how cool my stove is. Like, look out, you know. And then finally I was just like, I can't. I just have to like, whatever. When you guys are filming, my house is not going to fluctuation. Yeah. This episode is brought to you by Prime.

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Toss green salads with delicious ranch dressing or zesty Italian. Serve smooth, craveably creamy potato salads with mayo. We all know it's not a cookout without craft. Speaking of your family, like, how does Lamar feel about the whole TV side of things? Because we see him a little bit on Southern Charm. We see him in the premiere. He's at the birthday party. Like, it's not like we, he's off camera.

But obviously, it's a choice whether or not to sort of take that central role. Yeah. He's definitely not of, you know, he enjoys the show. And he's definitely like a fan of the show and he watches reality TV and he loves it. But like, he's just not the one. Like literally, it's like a robot. I mean, you even put like, you even put like an extra person. He doesn't know that well in the room.

And he's like, like he's just one of those guys that, um, you put a camera in the room and he is not fun to watch. Like, I'm like, why are you talking like that? Like, why are you, you know? But also he just also consciously like is just super private. I mean, you guys don't notice he's not tremendously on my social media. He's not, you know, a parent all over. It's not his thing.

Um, but he does like, love me doing it and does love like the project in itself and like the shows and all that sort of thing and you'll see a little bit of them too on this on on on the new show here and there we definitely like disagree a lot when it comes to how we run the business which I like to say ends up creating like a really cool thing because you know I I'm kind of like on one side he's on the other side and I do think that that the concessions that we make that's the result of like a beautiful business or a great staff, you know. Mm-hmm.

So. Yeah. Right. Like you can come to like the best version of something by having two kind of like competing ideas making it better. Exactly. So what boils to the top is like something really kind of epic. Mm-hmm.

I don't know if most people would be able to be married and be like, you know, people would say like, it's crazy you two are married. It's like your tornado tsunami got married. And I'm like, yeah, it is. Like luckily we found the rules to. like tango but we would have eaten each other alive. Yeah. If we hadn't.

So yeah, it's definitely a tricky thing. And there's times where he's more involved in the business, times where I'm more involved. Obviously when I had my son for like two years, I was really checked out, which is so odd for me. I think my son is the one thing in life that took me away from ambition for a bit, you and building stuff and work. I swear I was going to have like 14 nannies.

And then I was like, he got here. I was like, no, I touch my child. I don't. I feel like with the family stuff, knowing that you're putting yourself out there on a public platform, it's different for everyone. But you know what you have to do to kind of protect that side of things. And especially, I feel like with Southern Charm in particular more than a lot of other shows, people are so passionate about their feelings on your show. And so it's like, people can be kind of ruthless on social media.

Like maybe that's not where you live. your family life. Yeah, it's really not. Yeah, it's just kind of like at this point with social media and the way the world is, there's, in order for me to have some sort of sanity, I just don't want people attacking my family. You know, like that's just like the one thing. You want to attack the business or how I look or how I see things or what I stand for or how I talk or whatever it is. Like, that's fine. But like at some point, it's just like, you know, I have to have one thing that's a little bit safe. It's not like you don't see my family, but a little bit, a little bit. And honestly, like, it's kind of, I think if you were to film Myanmar, it's a little bit boring. Like, it's just,

we're not, um, we've been together a decade. Like, it's just not that exciting. Right. It's like arguments and smart. What's for dinner or who's making it and that's about it. It's not like a storyline. It's like just, just everyday life. Yeah. And he's really not like a, uh, he's not performative in any way. You know what I mean? You really would have to be around him. Like, some people have no idea what he's really like. Like, you have to be around that guy for like years to really crack in, you know? So he's kind of, if you don't know, him can seem a little bit like a snooze. I'm curious with the Southern Charm crew and you obviously getting this big opportunity with your new show, how have they kind of received it throughout the process?

I know we get to see some of them make little appearances here and there on the show, but how has that been for you? I think initially it was like a little bit tricky with some people, not all of them. And then, you know, when it came to fruition, I just feel like everyone got on board and they've been really nice. And, you know, obviously things were sort of like boiling to the surface for a number of reasons by the finale of Southern Charm. But since then, you know, the people that I wanted apologies from gave them to me. and I also have like some deep friendships with people that that that sort of went a little bit left and you know I'm hoping to repair those on my end and I think from their end too you know what I mean

so I got tricky I mean I think I think that's just human nature when you're kind of like wait you just got here why are you doing this thing but you definitely will see a lot like I want to say like 80% of the southern term cast sort of like making cameos and present and the girls for sure, like Naomi, Olivia, Taylor. Taylor's actually, like, very close with a lot of myself. She's a lot younger, right? Okay, yeah. She's super, super tight with them.

So she'll be at Republic even, like, sometimes more than I am. I'm like, Taylor, what are you doing? Oh, I'm like, oh, my goodness. Oh, yeah, they're close with them. And they obviously are close with me. So they came in from the get. We're super supportive. And you'll see that.

I actually just talked to Cor. Craig's friend who's on Winterhouse this season. And I was like, oh, like who, like, who do you know, whatever? And he was like, oh, well, you know, like, I'm at Leva's places, you know. I met Corey years ago, through Craig. Like, I think it was when Corey might have been, like, trying to get on Southern Charm, like in the beginning before Southern Charm. Uh-huh.

So I knew Corey back then. And he just has a really interesting family story that Lamar and I really took to, which I'm sure he'll tell you guys about one day. but he's a good guy like he's a really nice guy I actually really thought he was great and then I think he'd like moved away or something but Corey used to be in there all the time

and if he's in town I'm pretty sure he's in there so you're like yeah there's some some stories back there he's a good dude he's a really really nice guy comes from a nice family and stuff but yeah I know them from way back then like

you gotta remember like Whitney Shep and Craig actually saw Republic before we broke ground Like we were out one night and I was like, do you guys just want to come see it? You know what I mean? And like we walked through it. Like we were just out of place across the street having drinks before Southern Charm even started. So like, you know, people want to like, they're like, oh, where did I ever come from?

And like, what are they friends? And I'm like, dude, I like, I just because I wasn't on television doesn't mean that, you know, these relationships are not super old like coming on a decade of friendships, you know. Right. It's not like you, maybe you haven't been on the show. show is long or like you don't have as many like Instagram followers as someone else. But in terms of like what you have going on in your life, that's where the show is. Yeah. I mean, that's what what this show is is really what I've been building, you know, while, you know, some of what they see is, you know,

my cast that have been filming for eight, nine years. I've been building something for eight, nine years. So I've been doing something else. And so obviously that's what this show is about. But also the friendships between Southern Charm and and I, you know, that's existed all this time, even though, you know, I wasn't on TV, but like in real, the other real life that you guys don't see. That's, that's been there, right? So, yeah, it's kind of funny that there's all of that intertwined into, into Republic. And Corey was there, like, back in the day when we used to, when we first opened with Craig

all the time, when Craig was, like, single and would come to the door all the time, but do you think she's cute? Do you think she's cute? and would always go home not with a girl because I'm not picky like I'm picky. Craig called out. Before we go, so I really loved the premiere. I'm so excited for the season. I know you are as well.

Can you tell people who maybe haven't had a chance to watch yet, like what you think is really special about this season and this show and this group of people? I mean, I definitely think that it's, I think this group. group of people, I think what Bravo will really like is it just like it's very, it hits all the stories. It's, it's really real life. Because, you know, when I, when I go to work anyway, I am around people of different backgrounds and they look different and different, you know, socioeconomic status and like different lifestyle choices and like all these things, right? I think it's kind of cool to see how these like young people are navigating all of that in this one workplace. You

what I mean. They're all ambitious. They do things differently. I think it's going to be like a new, I haven't seen that a lot like on Bravo on a ton of other shows. And I think it'll be cool. I think that's like the emo side of me is just like, I can't. You know, like seeing them, you know, all work in this space and kind of like disagree. But in the end, there's a lot of love there. I think that's kind of going to be cool. I'm really proud of that side of it. But I definitely think like, the salacious side of it and all the good stuff. Like this is the side of Charleston people don't see. It's like the nightlife.

People don't know that like King is just like crazy all week long, you know, and they don't see sort of on Southern Charming, you don't see like the coastal life and sort of, you know, it's kind of like what people say like, what's that? What's that show like Outer Banks where they're like people here have like four houses or like four. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very much like that is Charleston.

People either have like a. estate wealth or, you know, wealth or just a lot of wealth, like several homes, you know, or they have four jobs or they're making a killing in hospitality. So this is a hospitality city. So like these kids are making a killing working three days a week and then they're in Tulun the other three days or they're renting a mansion the other three days or they're like on a yacht the other three days. It's very unique because I don't think you get that in a lot of other cities.

So, you know, they're making more than their friends. were attorneys and, you know, first-year doctors and, like, whatever, like, they're making a killing and they work. I know. You've got me questioning my career choices for sure. If I can be on a yacht three days a week, I'm coming down there. Literally, my school is like, I swear your bartenders make more than I do. And I'm just like, uh, they might. Maybe I just need to go in there on the weekends. Oh my gosh. Talk it a bit more. Yeah. And it's, it's fun. It's new. It's young. I think that people will be excited to see sort of like this new young southern, um, sort of like splash. I mean, I think we're going to come in with a bang. It's really like a mashup, I think of all the shows.

Like you get the craziness of below deck and you get like the sexy nightlife of Vanderpump and you get sort of the million dollar listing like hustle and business side. And then really, really true vulnerable stories. Like you guys are going to see some stuff that is honest and hard and I'm proud of these kids for being really vulnerable. I had to talk with them. I was like, listen, this is the game here. You got to really open up. Like you can't, if you don't tell, they're going to come.

They're going to figure it out. You're going to lose. And they did. They were really openhearted. And I was proud of them because they're young. It's not easy to do that stuff. Yeah. Leva, thank you so much for chatting with me.

I'm so excited for your show. Congratulations. Monday nights on Bravo. And best of luck with everything. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Leva. And thank you so much, everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow the show wherever you listen. You can follow us on Instagram at Bravo by Betches. And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool. Mention It All is produced by Dylan Hafer, Sean Kilby, Jorge Morales, Pico, and Rebecca Sousmacat. Editing by Jorge Morales Pico. Social media by Dylan Hafer. Guest booking by Dylan Hafer and Ali Friedlander. Be sure to follow at Bravo by Betches on Instagram and Twitter. All. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the

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