Mention It All - Putting Georgia & Charlie In Their Place & What To Expect From Next Gen NYC's First Reunion Ft. Emira D'Spain

Episode Date: August 11, 2026

Emira D’Spain is back with Dylan to break down all the chaos unfolding on Next Gen NYC. She gets into being caught in the middle of Georgia and Charlie’s feud, why Girls Night changed the way she viewed Charlie’s behavior, and how the fallout continued into Vegas & BravoCon. She also opens up about Riley feeling misunderstood within the friend group, Ariana’s new dating life, and what it was like filming their first reunion. Plus, she teases what’s still to come on the ski trip, how she wasn't her best self the second half of the season, and why the reunion helped the group finally address some unresolved issues.Go to the BravoByBetches YouTube page to watch full length episodes every Tuesday & Friday: Youtube.com/@BravoByBetches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Mentioned At All podcast. We are deep into the season of NextGen, NYC, and I had to get my girl Amira back here to talk about it all. Hello, welcome. Hey, Diva. How are you? I am so good. Better now that you're here. Period.

You're giving Grecian, Odyssey Summer. Yes. It's giving Calypso on the beach. Spending seven years. Yeah, just chilling there in Zimmerman. I don't think I've ever talked about Greek mythology on this, on this podcast before. Are you, like, into it? I mean, I'm sorry.

saw The Odyssey. I enjoyed it. Yeah. I was like so into it at one point when I was a kid. I feel like it's so fascinated. You know what my this I just you unlocked a memory. We had these like cassette tapes that had like myth like Greek. I think we had an Egyptian one and when we were on like car like road trips and stuff we would be listening to this like British man. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like I know what you're talking about. It's crazy. How many lives we live? Wild. Time flies. How is your summer being going. Summer's been good. It's been busy, just working, you know, haven't traveled anywhere. Yeah. We got to get you on a beach somewhere. I know. I need to be on a beach. I think I'm going to the Hamptons this weekend. What has it been like having this, I mean, because last season

aired during the summer also. So now like two summers in a row, it's like, okay, what, what's happening this week? What am I? What's in my mentions? What's happening on, you know, in the DMs? Like, what has it been like this summer having this season rolling out, knowing more people are discovering the show. We're getting to know all of you a little bit more. You know, what has it been like this year? It's been interesting. I feel like I normally like just content creation and like modeling stuff in general,

summer's always really slow. So while this is all airing, it's like really ramping things up in a good way. Yeah. And it's just like, okay, wow, like things just are, things just keep moving forward. And it's like, it's piling on top of one another in a good way. I'm like, okay, I'll take it. I know. And I feel like with the show this season, like, it's, it's nice that we're not spending as much time being like, okay, like, who is, who is, like, who knows who, like, what's, it feels like we really were able to dive in.

It felt like there was a lot going on right when it started. And, you know, the dynamics are shifting so much. And also, it's a longer season. You're getting a reunion. Like, it's, there's a lot to unpack. I think that's partially also because we all. spend so much time together. Like, whether or not we're filming, like, even now, like, in the off, I guess the off

season, like, well, we're like just, it's the summer. We all spend so much time together, like, in little individual groups and then just, like, in general, as the big group. What was your vibe going into filming for this season, knowing there was still some lingering things, maybe from last season, some stuff had happened in the, in the middle? What would your kind of prediction have been for how this season was going to go for you? Was there like an intention you were trying to set? Was there beef you felt like you needed to squash?

Where did you approach it from? I mean, I definitely wanted to squash whatever beef I had with Georgia. That was like kind of the only thing that was really lingering in my mind coming into this season. And then with Charlie, I kind of felt like a little bad for him almost because he had such a hard summer with the whole crypto torture of it all. And I really wanted him to like feel welcome in the. group. Yeah. And, you know, also we're filming a show. So, like, we have to, like, you know, spend time with one another, whether or not we're, you know, afraid or, like, cool with this person. So I think those are my two main, uh, like clouds, lingering over my head. Yeah.

Coming to the season. And the clouds have been moving and reshaping. Oh, the clouds have been shaping, honey. They may have rained. They may have lightning. We don't know. Yeah. Charlie is such, uh, I mean, he is very, he is very, really like a lightning rod within this group. And it does feel like almost from week to week. It's like, what is the specific reason that this person is not at Charlie? Are they working on? Does Brooks want to work on it with Charlie? Or does he just want to air his feelings? Like, how does Arianna feel? What's happening there? Like, I mean, it really feels like all angles with him, kind of. 100%. A hundred. It's like never ending. I know. So then obviously, you know, things have developed over the

course of the season. He and Georgia are also having their own issues. And I know you've talked on the show a little bit about feeling like you were sort of getting pulled into the middle of their dynamic. I think that's kind of the main crux of my season this year is like feeling like I got dragged into that. I naturally am a mediator. Like that's just like who I am. And I mean, you see it earlier with like me trying to mediate Brooks and Charlie and like I do that with all my friends, like in general. But of course, then it has its detriments whenever your collateral damage

to people's, you know, tiffs, and it's, it's not fair. Yeah, and it's, I think, like, from a viewer perspective, also, it's, like, when you can see kind of the, like, strategy at hand almost where, like, Georgia, I think, like, I mean, she's very, like, compelling to watch on, on TV,

but, like, in that moment, like, at the, I mean, that Halloween. Night was just like such a... Such a mess. Oh my God. Can I just say, none of us had that intention at all. Like, we were all so excited to like, like, actually have, like, so much fun and, like, let loose on Halloween.

Because I'm pretty sure we actually did that on actual Halloween. And we were so excited. And then it just went so self. And also, because it was like, some people were coming from the Frick. Some people were just late because it's Brooklyn or whatever. And it was like, I felt like shy. And it was like, Rowan was like, coming. hosting that. She was just like, is anybody ever coming? Like literally. It's one of those,

it's one of those like episodes where sometimes you guys will be at a dinner and it's like, oh, that felt so quick and you were actually there for three hours. I'm like, no, that episode felt like you were there for six hours. Oh, 100%. Yeah. So that after after that, like, what was your kind of like mental process of figuring out how to handle things with Charlie? Obviously, you were still being like presented with information. but knowing that you're filming the show, there's all the different dynamics. Like, how do you kind of figure out for yourself

what's the right way to deal with that? I think the hardest thing that I wish that people understood too is that I've been friends with Charlie for so long. And like when you're friends with somebody for that long, you like really do want to believe them as much as you can. And like, yes, maybe it makes me stupid. Maybe it makes me naive. Like, that's just who I am as a person.

And I always give people the benefit of the doubt to, I guess, my own detriment. Keep watching. But, you know, like, of course I was irritated with him, but then also with Georgia, because it felt really calculated. And now in those scenes, like, I knew exactly what was coming. And that's what's been happening now is, like, I think it just opened these floodgates so much of so much hatred online. And, like, especially the comment about my partner and my relationship, like,

that just literally opened the floodgates of like bigotry towards him towards me like him getting DMs and I'm getting DMs and it's just like that's that was my fear and why I never wanted that type of thing to be brought up on camera. That's why I never wanted my identity brought up on camera. Yeah. Because I don't lead with that. I don't talk about it really. It's like none of my friends talk about it. Right. And it's like it I think watching the show and like, you know, knowing you from social media and all of that. also it's like that it's not it doesn't feel like there's something that's you know not being set on camera it's just like oh this is just how your life is exactly and so yeah like when especially when you know you're on TV and then there's you know people giving feedback in all

different ways it's like it does feel like oh now now we're off in a different direction that wasn't really the point here exactly and that was my fear and that's why I think I was yes I was really pissed off at Charlie and, you know, I still am. But with Georgia, it felt like it stung a little bit more because I knew what was like to come. Yeah. Well, yeah, because I think the, the conversation that you and Charlie had after Halloween before Vegas, like, I think that was the most, like, remorseful we've ever seen him. Like, it does, I don't think that that comes naturally to him to, like, give someone a real apology. Yeah, no, it doesn't. It takes a lot. And so, you know, know, you do kind of have to weigh those things of like, you know. Yeah, it was hard. I, um,

you know, in that moment, I, I really did believe him. And then with what happens later on at Girls Night. Yeah. Um, Girls Night 2.0. And I find out more information from Georgia. It's just like, okay, this is not an isolated incident. And it was in that moment when I was like, okay, this isn't just Georgia trying to be calculated. Right. You know. So then you go to Vegas. Let me go to Vegas. It was funny because I was at Bravo con. I went to your panel. Obviously, I saw you guys were filming throughout the weekend. Everybody was kind of like, oh, I think there's like the cameras up. You guys are like so in the middle of your season. Yeah. It must have been such a weird, because normally like when you're in the middle of the season, you have the publicist, the production is like, okay, like we're not we're not talking about what's going on, get off social media, like don't, whatever. And then you have to sit on stage basically do a reunion in the middle of that. In front of everyone. A lot. reunion. I mean, I have to imagine that that was like kind of a strange like double thing to process. It was. It was kind of fun though because it almost like it broke the fourth wall so hard. Yeah. Then I think and I think it made us all feel so much more comfortable too. Like we were

like, okay, like this is just like we're just literally living. Yeah. I remember yeah because it was like I think one of the questions was like who changed the most for season one and it was like, hmm, Hmm. Thinking about dinner last night. Right, exactly. I love, though, what I feel like they're kind of having fun with your show in a way that sometimes they're, like, hesitant to do. Like, even the midseason trailer being like holiday themed. Like, that's so cute.

It's really fun. Like, I think that the, like, production and also the network, too, like, have given so much freedom for this show. And it's so fun because it's so different. Like, there's no, it's not Housewives. It's not Summer House. Like there's no guardrails for it to follow. So like it kind of just like evolves on its own. Like even the whole gossip girl bit like that was so like random.

We just came up with that. Yeah. Like let's run with it. Well, and I think I was talking to Ariana about this too when she was here that like in the first season there was kind of this narrative of like the housewives kids and yeah, you know, people,

how people felt about that. And this season it feels like that is like so far from anyone's mind kind of in a way that I'm like, this is great. Like this, this show doesn't need that kind of like boost from being kind of housewives adjacent or whatever. It just is like an interesting group of people. And it honestly also speaks to like my friends like Brooks and Ariana and Gia and Riley. Like they're their own person too. It's like they don't need the name to like make them interesting or cool. It's like they are they are interesting and cool. Like they don't need it, you know? Hey y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair.

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I'm curious what it was like for you, like living through it, but then also watching on the show, some of the interactions that Riley has had this season have been a little bit challenging at the girls night. And then that scene with Ariana, I know that she was kind of like caught off guard by the energy that Riley brought to her. How do you kind of view Riley's position in the group and how she navigates some of those situations?

Because it seems like that's tricky for her. It is definitely tricky for her. And I feel really like hard for Riley because she's expressed multiple times sometimes that she feels really misunderstood. And I've always known her and our. Ariana are super close. Like, of course, they grew up together. They've gotten closer to over the years.

And, like, I think sometimes Riley expects her friends to show up in ways that maybe she hasn't told them or, like, she needs from them. Like, for example, Girls Night, like, I was there. Like, we watched, like, I know for a fact, Ariana really did take so much care of Riley and was, like, making sure she was good and everything. And then, you know, Riley, like, didn't see that or, like, didn't really, you know, watch it back in the same way. So it just felt like she was misunderstanding it.

Yeah. You know? I think that's something where like, especially as you get older, it's like everybody needs different things from their friends. I mean, some people would be like, oh, I don't need you to text me in the morning. Like whatever. Like some people would get pissed off that you were trying to help me. It's like, no, it's like some people would say, why didn't you help me more?

Why didn't you get me in Uber? Some people would say, no, you should have let me be. I'm a grown adult if I want to act up. I can act out. Yeah. So it's like the more that you can identify what you need. and like tell people that, then there's less opportunity for those like misunderstandings, I guess. I'm curious, we saw your mom on the show this season.

I mean, the scene that you guys filmed together was really lovely. I thought being open about, you know, some of the burdens that you feel with your career and, you know, supporting people and all that. What was it like kind of talking to her about coming on the show, figuring that out? Was she hesitant to do it? Walk me through that. Honestly, she wasn't necessarily hesitant to it. My mom is like, I always say like a quasi stage mom because she's not,

she's always been like adjacent to being a stage mom because I grew up dancing and doing musical theater and like all these things. So she's always been kind of like my biggest cheerleader for as long as I can remember. So I think when the show came around, she was just like, oh, this is just another one of Amira's little projects. Like I'll just, I'll get behind it and do whatever she needs. And I'm like, okay, I appreciate it. Same with my dad.

Same thing. I feel like parents, like, parents, like, they don't need to understand, like, what we do. Yeah. They just need to have, like, two, like, phrases that they can say. And then be like, yeah, she's doing well. Exactly. That's all they need. That's all they need.

And a picture. Yeah. I mean, I thought it was, it's interesting because obviously all of you guys on the show and in the group are in different ways kind of working on career stuff. People are, you know, doing clothing lines and trying to model and all of these things. And I feel like you're in a unique position of that you had that going before starting the show. And so we're sort of seeing you in a different phase of that career than maybe somebody who's like just kind of getting going a little bit more. And there is a lot to navigate.

Well, I think it's also helpful for viewers to also see that side of things. Because it is like it's interesting. But at the same time, I also feel like I offer so much advice to my friends from like being on the other side of a lot of things. And I also, of course, take a lot of advice from my friends. But I think it's really cool to be in a position where I can, you know, help someone like Eva, who, for example, wants to create more content. And I'm like telling her, okay, you need to do this, this, this, this, this. And it's like there are some people that I feel like, I don't know, I love doing that for my friends.

Well, I think, too, because like now that, you know, you guys are in the second season of the show, we've gotten certain numbers. It seems like it's doing really well. But, like, I feel like we're at a place in the sort of, like, creator economy where, like, being on a TV show, you're not going to wake up with 200,000 followers the next day. Like, you have to still really figure out what your lane is, build that. And I think we're seeing that as like different people, you know, like shy trying to do his, you know, clothing thing and the whole photo shoot like debacle of who's going to show up for this.

It's like there's a lot to navigate that people wouldn't necessarily guess. Like, oh, you're on a TV show. You want to do a clothing line. You just like do it. Yeah. And I think that too, is what. makes this show so interesting. And for people who are watching it,

who like maybe think that, everyone is in their own individual lane. And like for someone like shy, for example, it's like he's not going to be able to do that in like a heartbeat. Like it's going to take time to like build and grow and do all those things. And that's an interesting journey to watch. Yeah. What did you think about the way that,

that Ava and Brooks handled that photo shoot? I mean, I have to say, I was a little offended that I didn't get asked. Right. You can wear a sweater. Yeah, I can wear a sweater. But no, I think it was fine. I feel like it continues to grow and you'll see it play out later on.

I feel like, yeah, with Brooks, it's like he's in an interesting position because he also has his brand, but then he also is doing modeling. So it's like he has a lot of irons in the fire of his own. He's trying to figure out how to get his Terry sweatsuits out of Boston. Yeah, exactly. It's, yeah, there is just like a lot going on with everyone in the group. I mean, even just like people moving. I'm like, moving sucks. I can't, I moved right before we started filming.

And if there were cameras there, I would have probably strangled someone. Like, I was so stressed out moving. That's how I feel like, because I moved last year. And it's like, even if you have the best people doing everything, like, it's, it's miserable. It's like so frustrating too. It's like you can't do anything. You can't go anywhere. It's like I

the very first time I moved in New York from my dorm into my apartment My mom did it for me I was like I can't be here I'll say I literally went over to a friend And I was like I have to go You're like I cannot be Yeah no that was my mom last year

Was like oh I could like fly in And like help you move and I'm like We would never speak again Exactly You cannot be here No no For your sake It's like I don't need you telling me

Where to put things in the kitchen Exactly Yeah it's it's been a It's a fun season though Because there it's like Everybody has their own stuff going on. Everybody has more like history with each other. It's interesting seeing Ariana this season navigate her relationship developments.

Obviously she has, you know, so much history with Hudson. But then now Liam is new in the group. They're exploring something. There's this weird dynamic with Charlie that we don't know exactly where that's headed. Now we find out that shy is like making comments about her looking good or whatever. what was it like kind of being a friend to her as she had all of this like life stage stuff happening? You know, I, I love Ariana. She's like literally, we've gotten so close from this show.

We have many, many conversations about all of our boy dramas. But I am not one to give advice. Like I have to say, like when it comes to anything like boy related, especially like with her situations, I'm like, damn. I'm like, I feel you. I feel you. But no, I think she's a beautiful girl. She knows what she wants. But at the same time, she's so young.

And I tell her all the time, like, it's okay to, like, make mistakes and do the wrong thing and do the right thing. And then go back to doing the wrong thing. It's like, you're a human. Like, you have to, like, grow and evolve. And, like, of course, it's different because you're on a show and, like, people are watching and people are going to give you their input. But at the end of the day, you have to just do what makes you happy. And I always tell her, it's like, what is, like, what is, like, you? truly making you happy, you know?

Mm-hmm. Yeah, and I think that too, like with, like, earlier in the season when it was like, Hudson was telling Liam to like, you know, stay away or whatever. It's like, at the end of the day, like, if you and Hudson are like meant to be together, that's not going to be ruined because you like flirted with Liam for two days. Right. And it'll come back when the time comes. If the time comes and it comes back around, then it does. And if not, then you had a great run.

And, you know, he'll always be part of your life in some way. But he doesn't need to be your partner. I think Liam is a great addition to the group. I do too. I love Liam. Honestly, all of the newbies this season, I feel like are fun vibes. Rowan is so funny. Love Rowan.

I love her, like, commentary on things. Kendall, I feel like we know a little less, but like still seems like a fun person to have around. I mean, you guys have really, like, assembled a great ensemble in a pretty short amount of time, which I feel like can be a struggle. like what do you think kind of like makes the group work well as a whole? I think because a lot of us were already really close friends. Yeah. I think that has made kind of like an anchor in the group.

And then it's always like, you know how big groups organically form? It's like a friend of a friend who then comes in the group. And then a friend of a friend's boyfriend comes in the group. And then a friend of a friend, you know, it just like keeps evolving and growing. And that's basically what happened with our group. but it just so happens that there's a camera. Yeah, it's like your, the plans are a little more. Exactly, yeah.

But like it, it would happen organically on its own anyways, you know. I want to talk about reunion a little bit. You guys just are like fresh off of reunion. Yeah. Your first one. First one. What was your, did you have like a strategy to prepare for it? Obviously, like you watched the episodes.

You were you taking notes? Were you gathering evidence? Like how, how did you kind of? think about that as something that obviously lots of people have done reality TV reunions, but this group it's so fresh for. I think, and I don't want to speak on everyone, but I have a feeling that most of us all watched and digested everything in the same way. It's kind of like how things made us feel in the moment and less about like the exact fact

of like, oh, you said X, Y, Z like in quotes. Yeah. Like it was more so like this made me feel X, Y, Z way. And I think that has led to way more conflict resolution than on so many more other shows. Because it's like, if I tell you that something that you said made me feel bad, then it's not necessarily up for debate.

It's like, okay, I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. That wasn't my attention. I think that is honestly like for the best because some, there have been certain seasons or situations that get so like bogged down. And like I printed out every text message that this person has ever sent to me. And actually they said that they didn't. but at 854, you know, and like sometimes that really works, but so much of the time it's like, okay.

And, yeah, I feel like that's so. Okay, you're right. Yeah. Congrats. Yeah, that's definitely a Gen Z thing that I feel like. It's like we're like, whatever. Like, that's not the point, you know? Which is so, I mean, it's like, life is short.

Yeah. At the end of the day, it's like you want to spend time with the people that you have fun with that make you feel good. Exactly. And if somebody needs to be like a dress. Yeah, then they will be, and they will be dealt with. What was, I'm curious, like, watching this season back, are there moments that have, like, surprised you or that you feel differently about sort of in hindsight versus how you

remember feeling about it, like, during filming at the time? Mm. I feel like later on, I, it, it seems to be, like, I am really negative. Like, I'm really in my head. And it's, it's because I was. Like there's so much additional context, too, that gets brought up later on at the reunion and such. But I definitely feel like I was not my best positive self, if that makes sense. Like, I was kind of like brooding.

Yeah. That makes sense. Yeah. And I think that's like something that makes sense to view in the rear view mirror and say, like, I was like, I was really down bad about that. Like, shit. I was like really have my feelings and then the next day it was kind of fine. Yeah, exactly. I mean, I think that also makes sense.

Like I've talked to people who have been on shows for like a long time, like many years. And there are certain elements of it that get easier, you know, learning how to share things, how to, you know, let things roll off your back. But also the more history you have with people and the more that things are layered and complicated can also make it harder to like move on from a conflict or to, to brush off something that somebody says when it's like, oh, that's like a real person that I've gone through a lot of stuff with. A hundred percent. And like known prior to everything. Yeah. And so I think like to me, like it's like the more time you guys spend together as a group. It's like it's going to be more fun. But also like things might hurt more when they, you know, happen a certain way. A hundred percent. I feel like that's also why you always end up seeing the biggest rifts on like especially housewives where it's the person. Oh, I brought you on. this show, like, and then all of a sudden they're the ones that have, like, the biggest beef of

like a lifetime. I think that dynamic with Georgia and Charlie specifically is so funny because it's like you both just got here. I know. I hate that. I hate that argument so much. It like literally makes no sense on like any show. I'm like, this is, that's not like how, I know you're trying to break the fourth wall.

That's not how it works. That's not how it goes. It's okay. On OC Housewives, they're still having that debate 20 years. No. Vicki's like, I was first No, I think, but I think like, I think this show is like a good example though of like it doesn't really matter at the end of the day who we knew prior or who had the most screen time. It's like different people are going to rise to the top in different circumstances. And honestly, like a show like this works best when everybody is like running at a pretty even pace.

Yeah, exactly. And then also at the same time doing their own different thing. Like I think that's also what makes this show so interesting is that everyone is so different. Yeah. And like sometimes we have more fun with that than others. Yeah. I did. Okay, I was dying on the episode. I think it's like this week's episode where you guys are going to Vegas and Gia and Shai end up on the same flight of New Work. Oh yeah. And Shai's like, yeah, I talked to Gia on the flight about like my thing with Brooks and she's like I was waiting in line for the bathroom. I'm crying. I just, yeah, I mean, there's so much going on in this group. I think it's a really fun season. What are you? I know we have the ski trip that's still happening. the season. Are we, are we excited to watch? I know it sounds like maybe things are not the most fun for you at the end of the season. How are, how are you feeling about these last, you know, handful of episodes? I think it answers a lot of questions and will solve a lot of people's thoughts as to why things unfolded in the way that they do. And I think then also like going

into the reunion, like, it just like, it's so, it will give so much more contacts and clarity to like so many things. Yeah. Okay. I'm excited for that. We got to get you on a beach. Yes. And then maybe cameras back up for season three.

Exactly. Fingers crossed. And then Bravo cons again next year, you know, it never stops. It never stops. And hopefully we'll be filming that too. We'll see. Well, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me.

Always a pleasure to catch up. And everybody watched NextGen NYC. That's right. We got a reunion coming. Yeah. Stay tuned. Thanks everyone for watching. Don't forget to rate, review, subscribe.

And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool. Betches. Thank you.