More Life with Carl Radke - Summer House's Mia Calabrese on Losing Her Mom, Confidence & Turning Trauma Into Strength

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

Mia Calabrese is the friend everyone wants: magnetic, hilarious, unfiltered, and impossible not to love. The Summer House star lights up More Life as she sits down with Carl for a conversation that's every bit as fun as it is deep - from sliding into DMs and the "sassy man epidemic" to the real story behind her confidence, losing her mom, and turning trauma into unshakable strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you want fun, a nice community, some gossip, some inside tea, then check out my channel The Brooke Ashley over on YouTube. And for my podcast, Girlies, I have not forgotten about you because I'm on Apple and Spotify. We talk about everything, and that's an understatement. So once again, if you want to hear some really fresh takes, some hot, juicy gossip, some insider information, then come on over and join me on my channel at the Brooke Ashley. I promise you, you're going to have a good time. Hey, guys, I'm Carl Radke and welcome to Moore Life.

Today on the show, we've got Mia Calabrese. She is a New York City real estate powerhouse. She's my summer house co-star. She's gorgeous. She's dynamic. She's so smart, strong, resilient, all the adjectives. I cannot wait to talk to her. Excited to dive in for this chat coming live from Softbar here in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Mia Calabrese, welcome to More Life. Good to see you. Thank you for having me. Thanks for coming in. Anytime. I love seeing you. I just saw you. We were in L.A. last week in Malibu, to be exact.

That was amazing. Really, really cool stuff. Wait, I thought you were going to talk about when we ran into each other in L.A. We're going to get into that. Okay, okay, okay, okay. More recently, we were on a Garnier shoot. Mia looked amazing. Lindsay looked amazing.

I got to shoot this whole commercial in a million-dollar house in Malibu on the beach, basically. Yes. Where J-Lo shot Love Don't Cost a Thing. And Lady Gaga did paparazzi. Paparazzi video is there? What was being on that set like for you? I'm just curious. Like, what did you think?

I was overwhelmed in the best way. I think this entire experience has felt like a dream, a good dream, an exciting dream, that I haven't quite woken up from. And that was just along with the dream. I couldn't believe it. I'm like, this is so cool. It was really, really, I mean, we've had the opportunities over the years to do some fun things like that. Lindsay and I actually, which was what was so exciting about shooting with you

because I knew like Lindsay and I had done things together. I was comfortable, but I was excited to do this with you. But like once you're there, it's just like, how did we get here? How did we get here? We felt like A-list, Hollywood, like stars, it felt like. No, truly. And like, what was so sweet was the extras that were there. I kept turning around like, thank you guys so much for being here. Thank you so much. I hope you're okay. Like, you know, I was just like so grateful, so excited, so taken back by. at all. And it really felt super surreal. It was really cool. So, I mean, I'm just loving the fact that we've had over the last three, four months, pretty crazy things happening. But obviously, taking advantage of some of these opportunities and kind of leaning in has been maybe healing

in some ways. For me personally, with Lindsay, it's been healing some of this stuff. I love you guys's relationship. Well, I want to get into some of this. I'm like, because I'm sitting there like, look at you two looking all cute. I like it. I haven't had my hands on her like that. It may never happen again. But, you know. Damn it. Well, I want to get into this because we start off every interview I have. Before, this is delicious, by the way. Steel Magnolia.

So, yeah, got the, did you do oat milk? Mm-hmm. So we make our own milks in-house here at softbar. That, it's delicious. We do almond and oat. We have a machine downstairs that actually we can produce and make our own milk. That's so cool. Can you show me when we leave?

I'll definitely show it. But I drink is called the Indigo Muse. It's a tea. It's a decaf tea, but it's... I had that the last one was here was delicious. But I didn't try this one. Our coffee program and the specialty copies are so good. I'm glad you got that one.

So this podcast is called More Life. I don't know if you know why about you weren't around. I wasn't around but I've seen. You might have heard the lore. I've heard the lore and I've seen the clips on TikTok. I mean, I was blackout drunk at the time. At that time, this is season two of Summer House. Drake's More Life album had just come out and I love Drake and I just kept saying More Life.

Like I just scream it out loud at the dinner table like, More Life. Really? just became this ridiculous thing that now over time, I believe it's more of like a mantra of just living your life to the fullest, taking advantage of opportunities. And when we were coming up with names for the podcast, it just was like, this is perfect.

I love it. But I'm curious, does Mia have a saying that you live by? Ooh. I feel like you're a wealth of sayings. I have a wealth of sayings. I'm like, this could go so many ways, this answer. Sorry to put you on the spot. No, it's okay.

To go back to Drake, not to say Yolo. And I know that's super cheesy. But that really resonated with me. Like you really only live once. Have as much fun as you can. Be as kind to people as you can. Meet people, connect with people as much as you can because you're only living this life one time.

I love that. Yolo. I haven't heard Yolo in a minute. You know what I mean? Yolo had a big moment. So I don't actually say the acronym. I say you only live once. Because yellow just sounds,

it's too dated, not in a cute vintage way. It's dated like a cringe way. Yes. It's like you're the weird dad. Exactly. If I said yola, I mean, yeah. Carl, you cannot say yolo. I can't say it. You already have big dad energy. People would be like, Carl, settle down. Settle down. Settle, relax. Yeah. Like I even some of the things I say on social media, people call me Phil Dumfey from modern family. He's like the dad. Really? And he has like the cheesy jokes and sayings. But you know, I think it's really cute like that I meant a lot. Like that. And then a lot. Like, Carl, I have such a crush on you. Like, I'm serious. You are so cute and like yourself and sure of yourself and confident of your, like it's just tends across the board. I have a crush on you.

as well. And I also, there's some of the questions I was preparing with my producer, Annie, and we were talking about just like how cool and confident you are. Thank you. And I don't know where you get this from, but I want to unpack some of this. Let's do it. But you just have such effortless confidence to me. Thank you. And I know you've been through a lot. We've talked about some stuff, which we are going to get into. But I'm just curious, like, where do you get your confidence from? Trauma, if I'm being honest. I think when you've gone through the level of trauma that I've gone through, there's a part of you that is just kind of like, whatever. Like, just show up and be yourself because no one's dead. I think the bar is also in hell for me. Like, if no one's dead and everything

is okay, like, it's okay to just be yourself. If people don't like you, that's okay too. But I think that's where a lot of my confidence is rooted in. And like knowing that I have angels around me that are always watching me, there's also that part. Protecting you. Yeah. So when I was building out softbar, hiring was honestly the part that kept me up at night because it's not just can you make a drink. I needed bartenders and baristas who had the whole vibe, people who could craft a great drink and actually connect with someone across the bar, the energy, the warmth, the hospitality. That's the entire thing. And finding people who bring that, it's way harder than it sounds. Well, the future of hiring looks a whole lot brighter because ZipRecruiter's latest tools and features

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Again, that's ziprecruiter.com slash radkey. ZipRecruiter, the smartest way to hire. What I love about summer is how easy everything feels. The days are a little more relaxed. I find myself reaching for that same comfortable go-to linen button down. And that's why I keep coming back to Quince. They focus on well-made essentials that naturally become those everyday staples you actually live in all season long. Quince's 100% European linen pants and shirts are breathable, easy to throw on,

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slash Carl. Yeah, I mean, I think the, you know, I've only known you about a year now. Which is crazy. Just kind of crazy. I feel like I've known you longer. Same. just because of how, you know, I've known Sierra a while now, and you have an incredible strong bond with her,

and I love seeing you too. But you've also just, it feels like you give strength to Sierra, too, and give her confidence. We do it to each other. And you guys bounce off of each other, which I loved watching last summer. We do it to each other. We're constantly bouncing off each other.

But then you also give her shit, too. Of course. And she gives me shit as well. Yeah, it's the best. We give each other's shit. My favorite is bitch. Always. I say bitch in so many different ways.

Sorry to it. No, it's like, bitch or bitch? Like, it's so much of that. I would pay all the dollars to watch you and Sierra just like... Go back and forth. Go back and forth. No, you have to like one day be a fly on the wall when Sierra and I are traveling together.

It is so chaotic, so fun. And like Sierra's kind of the friend was like, all right, it's like it's time to go home. I'm like, oh, no, no, no, no, no. We're just getting started, girl. We're ready to turn out. Well, I had a couple car rides on the way home and to the Hamptons with you last summer. And they were probably my favorite rides because the music we would play. You girls are just good energy.

Thank you. But I wanted to ask you, just, I had texted you about a month ago because we were going to Chicago. Now you're from Chicago, very proud. Born and raised, baby South Side of the Shy. I love you Chicago. Big Chicago guy. I was born in Chicago. I know you were.

So it's like a fun little fact that not everybody knows. Obviously Pittsburgh's, I'm very proud of Pittsburgh. It's my family lives. But born in Chicago, I have a lot of, you know, family ties in history to Chicago. I feel like a part of me is Chicago. And there's an element of like the Chicago Midwest vibe. I feel like you have a little bit of that. I very much have a lot of that.

I'm nice to my core. But I feel like Midwest nice can be taken a few different ways. Like it can be derogatory. Like Midwest and you're not actually nice. Sure. I'm like actually a nice person and that's how I was raised. And that was just nothing else was tolerated in my home. Yeah.

You're kind to people around you. You do to others what you would want done onto you. Like there was just no. Is that the golden rule? Or was that in the Bible child? I don't remember. One or the other. Something like that.

Same. But what I do know is I. I love Chicago too. I'm very proud of being from Chicago and I've lived in New York for 16 years. What do you make in J-Lo's comments? I kind of agree with her. I actually agree. So like I've lived here a long time. And the other day, someone was like, oh, you've lived for you're a New Yorker. I'm like, no, I'm not. No shade or issue with New Yorkers, but I am a proud Chicago. And I feel like to be a New Yorker, you had to have been born here and spent your formative years here. You were here when you were in middle school, high school. Like, I didn't do all that. Yeah. I was in a half.

house with the backyard in Chicago. I was not here living in New York at that time. Well, by the way, shout out to J-Lo and the green dress. Holy smokes. Mia wore that dress. I think she wore it the Grammys originally. And then you wore it. What was the show you win? The American Music Awards. AMAs. So Mia was stunning in this green. Can you talk to me about the dress? Where did you get it? How did this come to be? Okay. So this wasn't even a question on here. I just want to know. Okay. So this is the thing. This is my first award show. And I'm like, if I'm going to do what, I want to be able to be invited back. You know, I can't just wear anything basic. So I was working with a stylist and she was sending me a few things. And I'm like, I don't know. I'm not loving it. I'm like, show me where you're

looking. Send me the website. So I go on this website and I see the dress. And I was like, this is exactly what I have to wear. That dress is so iconic. And obviously that's not the exact dress. Okay, but it was like a similar version of it. Yeah, that was like, I think they re-released it in 2020 where that one didn't have the sleeves. Is it a Versacee dress? Yeah, it's Versacee. I don't know why I know. I don't make money to buy Versacea dress and keep them. I have to, oh my God, do you have a butterfly here. Child, I have ADD and I didn't take my medication today. So we're all going to go on a wild ride. This was a nice little gift from my dentist. When my brother had passed, she gave this to me as like a little memory memento of my brother. I guess it's a crystal piece from a really, it's a good brand.

I forget the name. Can I tell you something? When I saw that psychic last year, and I'm so sorry, this is going to, this is going to be an exhausting podcast, guys. I'm just going to warn you right now. We're going to go with some twists and terms. I ask my therapist. When I tell stories, we talk, we go from here to here to here to here, but it's going to be fun. We're going to have a great time. So, similar to it's like, woo. Okay, buckle up.

So I, when I saw that psychic on the medium, incredible, you know what she told me. So this is two weeks before I saw her. I was getting my makeup done. I live on a high floor. I was like feeling like shit. I was super depressed. I was just like, what am I doing? This is like, I was getting ready for interviews for Summer House.

And I'm like, I don't belong here. like, this doesn't make sense. What are you doing? Like, I just wasn't feeling good about myself last summer at this particular moment. Sure. And a butterfly came to my window. And it was just sitting there, like, flying, like right by my window. And something came over me and I'm like, that is my mom.

I couldn't explain it. I don't know why. I just like, that's my mom. Two weeks later, I saw this medium and she says, I just want you to know that your mom comes to you in butterflies. So whenever I see butterflies, it reminds me of my mom, which is why I have this butterfly bracelet and I have a butterfly necklace that I always wear to remind myself. So when I saw that, I was like, oh, girl, you're right where you're supposed to be today.

Oh, your mom is with us. Yes. Okay, sorry. Okay. No, you're good. No, that's really beautiful. I mean, obviously we did talk a little bit about some things you've been through with your family and your mom and your dad and all that. And I think you were like just such a bright light last summer, even while talking about some of those things. And I don't know how you do it because five years after my brother's gone, I'm having meltdowns about, Kyle and not checking in on me about stuff. Like I just, I've struggled with the grief of it all. I feel like you have handled it so admirably. I mean, it sounds like, yeah, you have your day.

I had a day two days ago where I just like, I'll, I call it when I get stuck, where I physically can't get off my couch. I'm laying in the fetal position and I just cry. And that's all I can do. And I typically have to like call someone, like a friend will come over. Sierra's had to come over and get me off my couch. Like I still have days like that. And I'm certain I always will because I'm so heartbroken and so devastated.

But I just try and remember that my parents would want nothing more than for me to live and experience life. For sure. And I try and it doesn't always work, but I try and always show up remembering that. Like, this is exactly what mom and dad would have wanted from you, you know? Absolutely. Well, yeah, you've, I mean, I haven't lost my parents, you know, and I still have my parents with me. And that's what's been, you know, hearing you go through something so difficult. but then how you kind of navigated it or still are.

You seem to just hold yourselves in such a positive way. Thank you. I mean, seeing your brother also when you guys did the medium on this past season of the show, it inspired me. I'm not going to lie. Can you talk to me about your experience of that? Like, were you apprehensive about doing it? Because I've had over the years since my brother's been gone,

I've had people message me on Instagram, random strangers, but like saying things that, hey, Carl, I'm a psychic medium. I got a message from your brother last night, X, Y, Z. So some of that's turned me off. People, please stop doing that to people. And let me explain to you why. Because people who've lost loved ones are so vulnerable. And I think most of the time people say things like that with good intentions.

But it's such an open wound for you. The last thing you want to hear is someone saying, oh, I had this message from your brother. And knowing that maybe that's not true. Yeah. You know, and you're in a situation where you're such a public figure. that I'm sure that doesn't make you feel safe. Go to my girl. She's incredible.

Well, that scene watching it was really powerful. Carl, can I? Okay, so the way my mom passed away was so sudden. And, well, okay, what happened to my mom? She had pneumonia, but she had an underlying health conditions. She had sarcoidosis, which is a hardening tissue. So some people get over their eyes, lungs, or heart. My mom had a hardened tissue over her lungs.

So whenever she would get pneumonia, she would have a really hard time breathing. And it was always one of those fears since I was, she got diagnosed when I was a senior in high school. Wow. And so anytime my mom would even get a common cold, forget about when COVID was happening, I would be so terrified. Because I would think she can die if she gets sick. Her lungs can't handle this. So this last time she got pneumonia. And whenever I would get so frazzled, I'm like, Mom, and I was in Miami at this time,

whatever you need, I can come down, just let me know I'll fly down. There was a panic that I always had anytime my mom got sick. Oh, no, Mia, I'm okay. Like, I don't want you to worry. I'm like, I am worried. What can I do? So I got a call that morning. And I don't know why.

I had woken up because I was being very dramatic. And I'm like, I want to take an 8 a.m. Hot yoga class when I'm in Miami. I'm parting. Why would I want to do that? Sweat out all the night. I know. I'm like, I'm going to be like, be amazing.

And I'm going to go to hot yoga in the morning. And so I woke up super early and my aunt called me. And I'm like, why is she calling me at 7.15 in the morning? It was very bizarre. So I'm like, hello? And I just heard it in her voice. Like, Mia, something happened to your mom. I'm like, what happened?

And she couldn't even get the words out. And when I tell you, I fell to the ground. I felt like I had no life in my body. I just fell because I knew this wasn't good. And I'm like, just put me on the phone with her. Like, if she hears my voice, she's going to be okay. Just put me on the phone. I didn't know how bad it was.

I got the next flight out. I took a Southwest flight. I will never forget from Miami to Chicago. I cried the entire flight. And I wasn't like boo-hoo loud crying. I looked dead. My face, I was just crying and crying. And those flight attendants, I'll never forget on that Southwest flight.

They were so sweet to me. And would just walk by and touch me like this. It kept giving me napkins, kept giving me water. And they were so lovely. I'll never forget them. I don't know. I got to the hospital. My mom had two patches over her eyes.

She was intubated and basically brain dead. And I stood by her side from that December, and we finally withdrew care in March. And so it was a very slow, painful death and days and days and hours of me in the hospital on her side and just like rubbing her and painting her nails and brushing her hair and moisturizing her hair and moisturizing her body and just trying. trying to make sure she was comfortable. And at that time, I would write every day in journal, and I would get home and read the journal to her the next day because we used to talk every day all day. And I didn't want her to miss a beat.

So I'm like, let me write everything down. So when I see her in the morning, I can tell her like what happened since I left the hospital and what's going on. So sweet. And I did that for months until finally my aunt called and said, it's time. Your mom is having a really hard time breathing. And we all went to the hospital. There was like 20 of us in the room. They were so lovely. The people, they're the nurses.

They were so incredibly kind and patient. And we all gathered around. We played her favorite music. What was her favorite music? If you know, I feel like you have like a family music thing going on. Oh, yes. We would talk about music, which I connect with music with my brother or my family. Big time. So my mom was incredibly eclective. So she would listen to listen to Future. She would listen to Frank Sinatra. She would listen to, like, it was all over. She was in an opera.

I was all over the place. And so I had, like, I made a playlist when this first happened. And I would just keep playing the playlist because I was doing a lot of research on like neuroplasticity and inoxic brain injuries, which is ultimately what she died from. Sure. Because her brain wasn't getting oxygen. So I did all this research and like, people sometimes come out of these. when they hear music or they hear people that they know.

So I would talk to her the whole time I was there and I would play all of her music and the nurses were so sweet and they would let me play music all night. I would have to leave after visiting hours and we had her speaker set up and I would just play all of her favorite songs for hours. Wow. And so I had that playlist going when it was time and she loved champagne. So you know like the sponge is on a stick. Of course.

And then the hospitals. Yeah, yeah. I would dip the champagne in the sponge and I just put it in her mouth. Oh. I put her red lipstick. gone in her pearls, which were her favorite, and we just all said goodbye to her that way. And it was exactly how she would have wanted to go out, you know, around people that loved her, and it was a party.

And I will never be the Mia that I was before my mom died. And that's something that for months after I would talk to my therapist and really struggle and say, I don't feel like myself anymore. and the only way I can explain it, and I'm sure you understand as well, it's like I feel like that version of myself died, and I'm now discovering this new version of myself, like, after my mom. Like, who am I now? Yeah. Because before, my mom was my soulmate.

She was my everything. I talked to her all day, every day. I called her before I would leave the house to show her what I had on. Like, that's how often we were talking. And I now have to figure out, who am I? And my therapist told me, Mia, you have. have to understand you will never be that person again. And you have to just start figuring out who you are now. But I know you talked about like five years later with your grief with your brother. And I just have to tell

you, Carl, you will always struggle with grief. It just looks different. We're always going to struggle. It's never going to be perfect because you loved him so much. Yeah. And grief, when you hurt that much, I read somewhere that like it's, it shows you how much you cared and how much you loved someone. Yeah. So, yes. I know. that was a very long-witted answer. No, I mean, I just appreciate you being so open. Of course. I'm really sorry about your mom.

Me too. But I feel like, I don't know, when people tell you, like, your mom would be really proud of you, does part of you, does that bother you, part of you? It doesn't. And it's so interesting because my mom was everyone's mom. Like, she, I just had a girlfriend yesterday last night. She was texting me videos of my mom. Your mom sounds like a lot of fun.

Oh, my God. She was way more fun than me. You would literally tell my friends, like, you guys are just so boring. Oh, my God. And you're a lot of fun. And I thought, oh, no, my mom was like, she was a blast. She was like a tornado. She would walk into a room and she would know everyone by the time she left and everyone would know her. And everyone would be like, oh my God, I met your mom. She's amazing. All right, guys. So I just got back from a weekend away. Different bed, totally different schedule. And you know how it goes. Half your routine falls apart the second you leave home. The workout slip. The meals get weird. You're eating snacks at midnight. But one thing that I never skip, no matter what, where I wake up is my AG1.

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I had people after Summer House came out who didn't know my mom passed away who had met her like once or twice. And remember who were like, I never forgot your mom. Wow. And that's beautiful. Yeah. She was just amazing and she just loved life. So we had her like celebration of life.

And I'm like, we have to make this fucking fabulous. I had the best florist in Chicago. It was beautiful. The space. It was like it looked like it could have been like a fucking bridal shower or something. How pretty it was in there. And I'm like and my mom loved mariachi music. So after like we did the service and like, you know, the horrible things were all crying.

I had a, didn't tell anyone I was doing this, I had a mariachi band come in. Hell yeah. And play mariachi music for a half an hour. And we all danced. And I'm like, that's exactly what my mom would have wanted for us to celebrate her. And that's like now navigating life. I'm like, Mia, you have to keep living. This is what your mom.

This is like, she would be so freaked out. Even like, I've always struggled with depression and anxiety. And I would call her like, mom, I'm having like a panic attack. She's like very typical, like traditional old school Caribbean woman. And she's like, Mia, please, this anxiety thing is not a thing. Yeah, I remember you just talked about this. This is not a thing. You have to get over this.

And, like, that was just her thing. Like, life is too short. You need to have fun. Like, that was always her thing. Yeah, it's not real. Like, you need to just move on from this. Wow. This is how she talked to me.

But it was great. And, like, I am just so grateful that I was able to have her as a mom this lifetime. And I hope next lifetime, she's my mom again. That's all I can say. Yeah. I mean, that's just an incredible story. I'm just so proud of you for all that you've done and how you were able to show up for your mom.

And I mean, I can't imagine how difficult. Because that's something like my parents had to kind of face a lot of my brothers more difficult moments than I did. And I think you being on the front lines. I mean, do you still have, like, trauma from that being? Oh, Carl, I have trauma from... All of it. I have years of trauma in my life.

I have trauma from my childhood until today. Like, I am someone who has had a very rough go this lifetime. And I think the level of trauma that I have experienced is actually my therapist says to me. Not to be one of those people who are like, my therapist says. My therapist has said to me for many years, she's like, I'm so proud of you. And this is like beyond my parents dying, the things that I've just experienced in life. She's like, most people statistically, you should be in prison. you should be an addict or homeless.

And you're none of those things. In fact, you're the opposite, which shows your resilience. And I have had a very unique life. And I think because I've gone through that level of trauma, I don't have patience for a lot of bullshit. I call people out and they need to be called out. Facts. And I lead with kindness.

And I have a lot of empathy in my heart because of, Yeah, you can see that in like even the reunion, you know, like you're so well spoken, but still the weight that your words carry without getting angry or flipped out or reactive. Like you deliver really hard truth. And as KJ said, bars. Yeah. You had a lot of really, I think, strong things to say. And I always admire people that can deliver.

Thank you. And even in conflict, you seem really composed and just really well suited for conflict because of all the things you've had to endure. It's truly what it is. It's like when people have, you know, everyone has their different trauma responses and how they deal with conflict. I navigate trauma. Like I'm, I become very calm. I'm very direct.

And I need to be heard. I need my point to get across. And I think for me, I'm a lot more effective when I'm calm rather than screaming at someone. Like even in a relationship, I'm not, I'm not going to scream at you. I'm going to tell you how you fucked up. You're going to listen to what I have to say. And then that's it. Yeah.

Do you ever, I mean, have you ever gotten, like, animated crazy? Yeah. When I was younger, I was a lot more passionate in relationships. And I can still get like that. Sure. But for the most part, if it's, you know, because there's a part of me that also, like, I find when I'm with a man, I can get angry and then I get really passionate. I'm half Italian, half West Indian. I'm a ball of passion, right?

But if it's like something. No, like, this is just like, it's in my blood. Do you understand who my parents were? My parents were very passionate people. I had no, like, of course, I'm oozing with passion all the time. But when it's something really serious, I'm like, I'm not going to scream. I'm just going to tell you how you fucked up. But if it's like a level six on how pissed off I am, no, I'm going to scream and it's going to be a drama.

Okay. Maybe once in a while might see something like that. Oh, it comes up. Okay. My ex-wife used to say, gosh, Mia, don't get too spicy, please. I beg of you. I beg of you. I just like, I beg you, please don't get too spicy.

I mean, I want to see you spicy with someone else, not. towards me. Oh, no, Carl, you'll never have to see me that. But with someone else, you'll be like this. My brother knows it, too. Like, when I... Are you older or younger than him? I'm younger. And when I would get spicy with any man I was dating, Nick would just be like this. Like, you know that meme of like Homer Simpson when he backs up? He's like this. He's like this. Slowly just disappears. Exactly. But if it's something really, really serious, I don't do that. I'm like, this is what, like, at the reunion when I was talking to Amanda, everyone's like, you were so direct. I'm like, that's how I am when it's something that's very.

very serious and my point needs to be heard. Because people don't listen to you when you're screaming most of the time. They're just kind of like, they can't hear what you're saying. 100%. I mean, you, that you handled yourself so, so well at the reunion. Thank you. Big claps to that. I want to talk, I mean, you mentioned this obviously, you know, your mom and your family

in Chicago. I'd love to just like, for our audience, like Mia as a kid, Mia growing up in Chicago, you obviously been through some shit. Yeah. Can you tell us a little bit about like little Mia, childhood girl? Yeah. Okay, so I was not a cute kid. So I actually used to get confused for Nick's little brother because we didn't have a ton of money growing up.

So I was like a hand-me-down kid. So I would always wear Nick's like big clothes. Sure. So everybody thought you were a boy. Oh my gosh. For years. Like my uncle would pick me up and like his friends would be like, oh, I didn't know Dawn had a son. I'm like, no.

That's, I'm a girl. Fuck. But I had like big frizzy hair. I had a huge gap. I was like maybe 80 pounds soaking wet growing. Like I was skinny, big buck teeth. I had a buck. in a gap. You know what the difference is? Like, you can have a gap, but my teeth were bucked and

gaped. Wow. So not cute, right? So because of that, I was never the cute girl. I was like, I had to be the funny girl. I just performed. And I loved that. I've always had a big personality. So when I was a kid, I used to do ballet. I started when I was three. And I danced for years. I loved dancing. And I used to play sports because then I had my big Grossberg. I've been five, I've been 5'10 since the 8th grade. And I'm big for no reason because I have zero hand-eye coordination. And then my mom would be like, we're doing one drop-off. So I was playing boys soccer, boys basketball.

I was in the boys' leagues because that's what Nick was doing. Wow. You know, the second child, they always kind of get the short end of the sick. They're like... I was a second. You know what I mean? You just get dragged everywhere the oldest goes. It's like Nick wants to do basketball.

You're going to do basketball with Nick and the boys basketball programs. One drop-off. One drop-off. So I was like, I would do boys. basketball and they'd be like make her the center because she's 5'10. I'm like, but I don't want to catch a ball. That's what you don't understand. You know what I mean?

So that's how I was, but I was always like really funny. I grew up around all boys. So my mom was my dad's third wife. And he, you know what I mean? Your stare was perfect, a little head. You know? So his second wife was my sisters and brother, Dino, their mom, was my dad's second. wife. In his first wife, he was married to a playmate.

Unbelievable. Red hair, beautiful girl. You did your history research. That was like my dad's first. Were you in, did you have connections to those parts of your dad's? So my dad's first wife died when she was in her early 20s from her birth control pill because she was smoking on it. No way.

This was like before they would give the warnings and shit, you know? So, which is crazy. She had blood clots. Horrible. She died from blood clots with smoking. That early fucked him up. Then my dad met Karen and she's like a big health guru. Like when Beyonce wants to get a cleanse, like a raw diet, like they go to her.

She's one of those people, which is so cool. So I grew up in a very interesting household because my parents would do her raw cleanses. So my sister's much older than my brother and I. And my oldest brother passed away. He also overdosed when I was a senior in high school. I mean, that's crazy. Horrible. So sorry.

But he was the best older brother ever. So fun. So cool. He just had his own demons. You know, he like, I have a such empathy for addiction because of it. Like, I grew up, like, that was always a thing. Like, he would get clean. Then he would fall off the wagon.

And it was just a thing. We talked a little bit about that because that's my brother's story. It was just this up and down roller coaster. But I feel like you maybe knew more about addiction at that point. At that age, of course. But I hated my brother because I didn't clock it as addiction. I just thought he was a dick or an asshole. And he would steal.

He stole my bike. He stole my Jordans. He would steal my Jordans and sell them and stuff and like my skis. Yeah. But it was all lies. That's all like addiction. Like that's addict. I was five years younger. So I struggled to understand that that behavior because I was so young, so young at the time that I was like all these bad things were happening to me. You just thought he was an asshole. Exactly. So it was hard to understand that, oh, wow, there's a disease here. Like if he really wanted to stop, he would. Yeah. I think my parents did a great job talking to. Nick and I about Dino's addiction when we were young. And they always led with empathy with him. And explained to us like, this is a disease,

how anyone would have any disease. And I think our society looks at addiction. Like, these people are just assholes. Yeah, they're bad. They're degenerates and bad and less than. Trust me. If my brother could, he would have never become an addict. Of course.

And I was just always taught that you need to have empathy and kindness and understand and to kind of meet people where they are. Of course. And of course it's difficult. And everyone's stories different. But I always look at addiction like a disease and not like they're just being a douchebag. Totally. You know?

Yeah. I wish I had had that perspective. But it probably created a lot of resentment in me. Because I'd always say, I'm not as bad as my brother. Yeah. Yeah. I drank and did Coke. But he was doing heroin.

He was homeless at times. He was in and out of rehab, but I wasn't. Yeah. So I was always like, I'm better. But I was still doing the same kind of. But that's also some addict shit, you know, like comparing yourself, like, well, I only do Coke on the weekend. That's what I used to say. You know, like, well, I'm only doing it.

But it's like, but you're still doing Coke, right? Exactly. But, yeah, I totally get it more than you know. I have a question because there's a story that I wanted to tell our listeners and watchers. You and I were driving back from the Hamptons on a Sunday. We had a busy weekend. Obviously, filming is exhausting. You're on.

You're tired. You might have been hung over a little bit. I wasn't. I'm sure I was. No shade. You're having a good time. Yeah. But we were driving back.

and it was like 2 o'clock on the 495 Long Island Expressway, and you're like, I got to get back for a showing at 4.30. Yeah. And I'm like, right now you're like, yeah. And you're basically like money doesn't sleep kind of thing. And I was so impressed by your work ethic and your dedication to show up on a Sunday. But you also made a comment to me. Maybe I'm revising it.

But like Sundays are actually when people can go look at apartments. Because during the week when they're working their full-time jobs, they're not going to look at apartments. They're obviously at their office. Yeah. So you were wise because you're like, this is how I actually make more money by showing apartments on weekends when others don't want to. So where do you get your work ethic from? Is it your dad? Gosh, my work ethic comes because I know I can't fall on anyone.

Yeah. There's no one. It's like a fear of like, you know you don't have any other, but anybody but yourself. If I fail, there's literally no one I can call. Nothing's going to catch you. There's no one that's going to catch me but myself. And look, I've been broke in New York. It's not fun. I never want to go back. I work my, ass off. I have a showing tomorrow morning, super early. I work hard. I've also built my real estate career, which is not easy. Most people get out of that business within the first year because you just don't make money. I've been doing this for seven years. I have built my career and it's something that's really important to me. And I also have a thing where like, I want to create a life for myself. And that means I have to sometimes work when I'm tired. And that's okay. Yeah.

Well, I think it's just such a good mentality to have and not everybody is that way. I mean, we live in a culture now where it's like, I'm not feeling great. Don't go. Take your time. Take your break. And I also subscribe to some of that. But I also do think showing up when you're not feeling the best or you're a little tired. There's a lot of growth or a lot of good things that can happen from that showing up.

But I just always admired like, because I was like, here, I'm racing to get home and sit on my couch on a Sunday. And I'm, you know, got all this stuff going on. I got a lot going on too. But I'm like, I was just really impressed by your work ethic and hustle. and you built a really impressive real estate career. Thank you. I'm curious, has the last few months of this show, has it helped?

Or has it created more disruption for it? No, I don't think it's created. There was actually, I was at an open house maybe two months ago. And I'm like just doing my job, right? Yeah, you're working. I am someone who I compartmentalize everything. Like, Summerhouse is here. My real estate career is here.

Like, these two do not coincide. And I bet a lot of times you're at a real estate thing. majority of people probably don't. They don't know who I am. Exactly. So you kind of have to compartmentalize. If you walk into a real estate thing, you're like, I'm me from Summerhouse. They're going to be like, they're like, and you freak?

Cool. Like, and? And who like, what is SummerHout? Like, you know what I mean? It's like, they don't care. Which I love. Yeah. I love that.

I'm like, great. It's nice. Yeah. There's like a separation. And even when I'm here at soft bar sometimes, I have customers that come in. They think I work here. Or they just think I'm a customer. They're like, oh, nice place.

And I'm like, yeah, I own it. They're like, you? Yeah. They're like, yeah. Like inside, I'm like, yes. Like, they don't know that. Yeah, I mean, I totally get it. Look, I love my career.

I love real estate. So when did you know you wanted to get into real estate? I was working at the box for so long. We talked about the box last summer. I used to be a regular at the box. I'm sure. And my addiction and partying ways, nothing against the box. Great place.

I partied on my own and did my own thing. But the box was a place I always frequented. Oh, I was just there the other night. You still go? I try really hard not to go. There's a switch that goes off in my mind when I walk in there, and I'm like, oh, all bets are off. Can you explain for the uninitiated what the box is?

The box is a nightclub in Lower Manhattan that is very racy. They have very... It's like burlesque? It's not quite burlesque. It's like hypersexual, magic. There's like performances. Like, there's vignettes. Yes, there's vignettes.

but they can be anything from like hypersexual vignettes, acrobatts, fire breathers, like crazy. And it's like insane. She's being PG. I'm being very PG because I don't know. I don't know who you're scrubbed by. Some of the craziest things I've ever personally seen in my entire life visually have occurred at the box. It's so true.

But because of that, that really rewired my brain. And my favorite thing is like, I say this all the time. People are like, well, I have to tell you something, but I don't want to offend you. I'm like, I have seen such crazy shit in my life that there is nothing. That you can say to me that I'm going to be like, oh, my God. You're ready. You've seen it. I've seen it, which I kind of love.

It's just fun. And it was an amazing way to spend my 20s. So before you were doing real estate, you were doing the box. I was working the box for years and I loved it. What was your role at the box? So I had two things. One, because I was a waitress because I wanted. You probably cleaned up at tips.

I'd like to make money. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, my God. I was amazing. It was just the best. Just make people feel so good. Oh, my God.

It was make it feel so good. We're partying. We're having fun. We're dancing. And I truly loved it. I had so much fun. I'm a social person. I am like the quintessential extrovert.

I'm like, let's sit down. Let's have fun. Let's get to know each other. Let's party. It's like every night I was working there. I felt like I was on a first date. Love that. It was so fun.

And yeah, I did it. It was an amazing way to spend my 20s. And then I'm like, okay, girl, this can't be your life forever. So you were just working there full time. So I was waitressing there. But then the owners and like our management was like, you need to be doing something other than waitress. Like, what can you, what else can you, what other roles can you do in this company?

So they're like, okay, you know what you're going to do? You are going to be our concierge liaison. So what I would do is work with all the high-end hotels in the city. And whenever they had guests that were coming, I would be the person who would liaison with them, right? Like set up their reservation, go to their table, make sure everything is okay. If they have special requests, I was the person who made sure that everything was executed correctly.

Love that. It was great. I feel like you'd be amazing at that. Oh, I want an award. At what point are you then going, I'm going to go take a real estate exam? I feel like that's such a, I love real estate. I love buildings and that exam itself I hear as a nightmare. I aced it on the first time.

You are smart. Thank you. You study too. I did. I study. You should have seen my workbook. I studied. I could see this workbook.

Yeah. But I would imagine like that wasn't like just an overnight decision to get into the real estate. Can you talk about just like? Yeah. I think it's making any kind of career change. Obviously, waitressing was never going to be a career for me. Sure. It was a means to an end, maybe.

It was a means to an end. It was like a fun thing. Oh my God. I had a blast. Because we get some people that like watch our show and listen that I think are in these positions of like they're at a career kind of pivot. Like, am I going to quit my corporate job and start a startup? Or am I going to take that trip?

I feel like there's something here maybe like that you learned with that pivot. I think every, you have to look at where you are in your life. At that point, I was in my late 20s. I was not married. did not have kids. So it's easy for me to sit here and say, if you want to make a career change, just do it. Everything's going to work out.

But I also, my responsibilities were not as large as some other people's are. So like I can sit here and say, if you have that urge, just do it. Fuck no. Okay? Like we're adults. We have adult bills. Okay. So for me, it made sense.

I always loved architecture. I always loved design. My brother was in real estate for 10 years before I was doing this. And he's like, Mia, you need to just make that switch. You love watching me work. You love that industry. You need to just do it. And I was like, I don't know.

I'm just like scared. Like I love the guaranteed money of the box. I know every week I'm going to make at least X amount of dollars. So it was difficult to think about leaving, but I knew I had to because towards the end, I started getting really, really anxious being there. And I just wasn't happy. And I'm like, I don't need to just stay somewhere because I'm financially comfortable. I don't want to spend the rest of my life being aggravated, angry, tired.

I just, I couldn't do it anymore. And I'm like, let me. leave on a high. Smart. You know, like, let me leave when I'm still like loving these people, loving this place. And now still to this day, I can go to the box of my head held high and have a blast because I did it that way. Yeah, which I think is so admirable. Most people just burn the place down. No, no, no, no, no, no. That's high it used to be. Yeah, no. I don't, I don't ever want to burn a place down. I want to like, I don't know. I also think I just once again wasn't raised that way. Like, I was raised to, like, live in gratitude. I was raised to be kind and be respectful. So, like,

I'm not feeling this anymore. I can't wait just like that anymore. I'm not the girl that I was a few years ago. Let me figure out what's next for me. I am the person who needs a good sleep. Between filming, running the businesses, and training for a marathon right now, my recovery matters more than ever. And there are a few things in life you should never cheap out on.

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I mean, it's amazing just kind of transition to that. Do you remember the first apartment you sold? My first apartment was a rental. He was an attorney in Washington, and my first rental was his apartment, and it was like a $25,000 rental. And I remember when I did my first deal, this is like maybe a month after I got my license, which is not normal. Most people make $20,000 their first year in real estate.

My first year in real estate, I think I made maybe $120,000. Hell yeah. Because I had so many friends and, like, clients in that space. You were already very connected. I was super connected in New York, and people trusted me. Like, even when I was working at the box, I wasn't an asshole. Like, I was still competent and kind, and I did the right thing always, even when I was in that space. I always say, like, real estate, buying home is the largest purchase that most people

will ever make in their entire life. And they want to work with people that they trust. So people trust me because I'm, I'm trustworthy. You are what I mean? I'm trustworthy. So that was like, I'm like, okay, this is so exciting. Wow, I just made this big commission check. And I didn't have to like waitress.

And I didn't have to like pour champagne in people's mouths. And it didn't have to be like a show. Like, I think I really like this. And when you get your first check that was like a, you know, a substantial amount of money. It was one month's ramp. You're like, okay, I could actually do this. I like this a lot more than what I was doing. before.

And gave you the fuel to keep. Yes, that gave me the fuel to keep going. Well, I feel like you are such a trustworthy and loyal friend, which is also what's been so fun to watch you and Sierra and your friendship. You know, I'd heard about you. You were at a party. Yes. What party was it again?

It was like a pajama party. Snoose Fest. Okay. It was snooze fest. Yeah. It was at the original snooze fest. Yes. Paige loves to call it the first annual.

Okay. Yes. The first annual snooest. I was there. And Sierra was like, can you come? I'm like, of course. Like I. Had you heard about summer?

house at that point other than just what Sierra maybe had mentioned or so were you a fan of bravo at all? Don't get mad at me. No, you can say no. I didn't watch. I have anxiety. Let's start there. And I like to rewatch the same shows.

So I have a few shows that like it's heavy in rotation for me. Schitt's Creek, sex in the city. Like this is like what I can handle because I know how it's going to end. You've already seen all these seasons, but just rewatch it. If I want to have something on in the background, I'll do that. Or I watch the news. news, big CNN girl. Love it.

Very dorky, I know. Nothing wrong with that. So I typically don't watch a ton of reality TV because it makes me anxious. And like the screaming on the TV, I'm just like, oh my God, I can't, I can't do this. You weren't a reality TV girl. No, but I obviously knew of Summer House because of Sierra, because I've been friends of Sierra for years, but it's interesting, we wouldn't really talk about Summerhouse. Like, that was such a separate component of our friend.

And of her life. And I think she liked that. Yeah. And she would like sometimes talk about you guys. And I would have to be like, wait, who? And I'd like, pull up the picture. Like so we would, you have to ask her. Like I asked Sierra, she would be like, let's say she was talking about you.

She'd be like, well, Carl, I'm like, which one is Carl? Which one is Kyle? Which one is Kyle and Carl? You know, like, I knew Paige because I had met Page through Sierra. But like, I didn't really know all the contenders. Sure. I would say I knew West because of Sierra. But I would just get, I'm like, I need a full picture.

sure. I need a family tree. But I think that's kind of what made it so great because I didn't have a lot of information about you guys walking into Summer House except for West. So when I walked in, I was just like, okay, these are new people that I'm going to meet. But when you walked in, there was something about, you were probably the most perfect casting we've ever had. Oh my gosh. For sure. That's so sweet. Energy, just your vibe, who you are, your story, your relationship with Sierra. How beautiful watching you and KJ Bond. Like, I love our friendship. I just love, I feel like you were just such a great addition. And I'm like,

thank you. How did we get so lucky? Oh. But then it's like, you peel back the layers and like you're at snooze fest. Did you ever think a year later you'd be on the show?

I was like, wait, what? So I was going to Europe and they were like, we're really interested in Cassie. It was like, what? Like, it was so bizarre. So you were supposed to go to Europe instead? Oh, no, I still went to Europe.

After. Before, like, before we started filming, I was like, I'm not not going to Europe. Like, where did you go? I went to Paris to see Beyonce. Hell yeah. I saw the Cowboy Carter show there. And then after that, I did a girl's trip in Majorca with my friends.

You rented this beautiful house. Like the end of June? This is the end of June. But at that point, like, I'm like, I'm a realtor. Like, if this summer house stuff works out, cool, but like, this is not my top priority. My priority is my career. So, like, no, I'm on my way. I have a plan.

I have a trip planned. I'm going to the airport. Like, what's going on? Like, tell me what I need to know, girl. Like, make it quick. Tell me what's going on. What do you got for me? You know what's going on?

Like, it was such a like, it would. And now that I think. about it, it's nuts. Because I just, I didn't really know what was happening and it was so last minute. But I feel like that helps you. Like, it helped that you were kind of like, I'm focused on my career. Yeah. I'm focused on my friendship with Sierra. If this is what something, whatever, like, I feel like that helps versus like when you're like already and like, oh, I've been watching the show and I know the characters and all the contenders. I agree. I had no idea. Or the night before I was supposed to pack for Summer House. I went upstairs to Sierra's house. I said,

girl, what should I wear? Like, I had no idea what I was walking kids. But that actually helps because it just you, you didn't have any preconceived. You were just you. Yeah. And I think that is what we saw when you came on. And I loved everything you did for our group and just the energy you brought. But one thing I wanted to talk about, because I think it's so important, which was the conversation we had at that restaurant with you, KJ and Sierra, where the three of you really, which we need, opened up about being Black in the Hamptons and all the pressures and all the things that we're not familiar with, but need reminders of. I don't know if you can just talk about the bond you had with obviously Sierra, but then

adding KJ to that mix and what it meant to you. It was interesting because I didn't think that like that's where the conversation was going to go. In the past, I've found myself in predominantly white spaces for the last 28 years of my life because of work, because of school, whatever that looks like. And the conversation that we had, I have often with my black friends, but it's typically not with a group of white people as well. So I think for me, I was apprehensive because I didn't know how that was going to end. Because when I have had those conversations with white people in the past,

it turned into like, well, it's not that bad. And well, that's not what it's like. And no one treats you like that. And I'm like, oh my God, these are so many microaggressions. And the fact that you can't pick that up is nuts. So I was so worried because I didn't really know you guys like that. I'm like, what the fuck is about to happen in this conversation? Very valid.

Well, I will say that there was, Sierra did this a few weekends, few seasons before. Sorry. I wasn't there. And Lindsay wasn't there. We were at another thing. But there was a conversation that Sierra and Maya had started because, interestingly enough, people were calling Maya Sierra accidentally. Which is so lazy and so just like, those two don't look anything alike.

Not even close. Their names are not even close. It's lazy. Bad, really bad. And then had a really powerful conversation, but I wasn't in the room for that. I watched it. Now, being a part of that dinner table, like, I was so moved because I have lots of black friends, but I haven't had some of those conversations with them before. And it just opened my eyes up so much, especially with KJ. too because I've gotten really close to him. And he's really the first black man we've had on our show. And you talked about some of the pressures of the black men and black women.

It was just like so important, so powerful. I'm proud that we're on a show that opens up to that. And, you know, I'm glad it maybe went better than you had hoped. We want to provide space and just listen. But it's like we don't, you know, we need to be educated. For sure. And it's funny. I went to the, got to the point of my life where I'm like,

I'm done educating white people. I'm done. Like, no, I'm going to tell you. And it's happened a few years ago because... Can you please keep educating me? I will. I'll never forget. Recently, someone was like, well, what is Juneteenth?

I'm like, absolutely now. Google's free. Google is so free and accessible. Like, if you really care, you can look at shit up. Just pull up the news. Just pull up the news. But I think there's a privilege that white people have where they can walk through the world and not really have to learn history and not really have to learn history

and not really have to learn what it might look like for a minority in this country. And I'm just grateful that our cast was open to hearing that and wasn't trying to minimize our feelings or gaslight us into thinking that that's not the truth. Totally. What was the response like? I would imagine you've gotten a lot of messages. I mean, even myself, I've gotten messages from, you know, all sorts of folks really applauding us for doing that. I mean, how did that feel getting?

I felt really proud. Yeah. Because I would imagine a lot of our audience, there's a massive black Bravo audience. Yeah, there is. And they're amazing people. They love our shows. They support the hell out of us. Yeah.

I think I got an outpouring of love from both black people and white people. Because black people were saying, I'm so happy that you were able to have that conversation and say the hard thing where it's like KJ, when people look at you, they look at you like a threat. That's the truth. That's the conversation my parents had. My white father had with my brother. My dad was born in 1942 in an Italian neighborhood. Hello.

And he would tell my brother, you need to act this way when a police officer pulls you over. When you're in a store, you need to behave this way. That was coming from my white dad. My black mom was saying the same thing. My black uncles, they were saying the same thing to us. You need to conduct yourself in a certain way because you will always be seen as a threat. I don't care how pretty you are. I don't care that you hang out with white people.

I don't care. You will still be always seen. as a threat. And I'm just so grateful that black people were like applauding me and saying, yes, you're right. Thank you for saying the truth. Because I don't know if you know that, Carl. I don't know if you know that people look at us like a threat. I mean, I unfortunately don't think like that now. But then as you say it, of course, because you hear stories and news and media. Yeah. Of course. That's like a very real thing. And also the white people that were commenting and messaging us, like at least for me, they're like, I had no idea.

And I really appreciate that you guys said something. And I like that kind of white person. Like, let's do a lunch and learn. Let's learn. Love a good lunch and learn. You know what I mean? Like, let's, let's learn some learning. Let's do some understanding.

Let's try and learn about other people's experiences and not just be hyper focused on our own. Clops to that. You know what I mean? For real. I mean, if anything, like what I've always been proud of with our show over the years is like, certainly with my sobriety and mental health that I talk about or even my brother, is that it helps people. And I know for a fact that that conversation, not only is it going to help people, black men and women, but also is helping the white folks understand.

But I think it's going to inform hopefully conversations in those communities at home. At the schoolyard, at the lunchroom, in the locker room, on the bus at the dinner tables with men and women that are white and black. Of course. I hope that that continue to, like, really impact. And that's like what we do with Summerhouse makes it so much more beautiful. I agree. I know there's like a lot of, I'm biracial, right? I know there's a lot of biracial kids who have white moms and they have a little baby named Jalen running around.

Yep. Little Jalen is still a black man. Like that conversation needs to be had. No, I just wanted to take the time to applaud you for that. So thankful for you. I'm so thankful for you. No, you're awesome. I like it here.

I could stay here all day and chat with you. We're going to get closer to the end. I did want to just touch on, you know, I know you were in a relationship last summer. I know. And I did get to know your ex. You know, always thought he was, you know, respectful and cool. Yes. But the way you kind of navigated a lot of that, I feel like it sounds like you guys are still friends.

Yeah, we're cool. Friendly. But you're single? I, how does it feel to be single? And nothing against Scott. No, nothing against Scott. It's exciting. Do you enjoy in this single era?

I'm starting to. Starting to, okay. I think I needed like, okay, so I don't believe in like going from one relationship to the next. That is so weird. Thank you for that. You know what I mean? Like, let's a bed cool off. They bring that previous relationship into the next one.

You need some time. I needed some time. Like, I needed some time. And I still need more time. And that's totally valid. It took me a year and a half from the time Lindsay and I broke up to actually be like, I could like maybe be romantic with someone else. Even though like I called it off and did all these things. But you needed your time. I needed time. So I'm still in the place of like I need my time. I'm not ready to like seriously date anyone or do any of those things. And now that I froze my eggs. Congratulations. I've got a little more time. So I'm just like. So you're ready for single life because you're ready for single life because you. You got your eggs on ice. Chapp. I'm ready. Your career is exploding. I'm so excited. I'm like I don't feel like I need to meet the person of my dreams right now.

I just want to live and exist and get to know who I am now. And like this new version of me, right? You can see it. You literally are watching it right here in front of us live. Like I'm so excited. And I know the man that I'm supposed to be with is out there. He hasn't come into my space yet. And when he does, I'm ready for you.

I'm ready for you. But right now, like, it's just nice to just be single. And I love to flirt. You know, I'll flirt with anything and anybody. She's a good flirt. I love to flirt. I'm just out of curiosity. I like to ask some of my female friends these questions.

Who's like your, who's like the guy that you think is like a stud or like one of the better looking guys that of notoriety, athlete, artist? So someone just asked me this question and I don't know. Because everybody's trying to put Michael B. Jordan and Sierra together. Okay. So he's really good friends with my ex-boyfriend, which is also so weird. And she's met him a few times. So, like, I don't know where this rumor came.

I'm like, we have all met him so many times. Like that hasn't happened, then it's not happening. But it's also like, it's just, yeah. The Bravo verse gets excited about potential. I'm like Michael B. Jordan. Well, you were hanging with Rihanna too. Shout out to Rihanna. Shout out to Rihanna.

I love her. She's amazing. We went out a few times in the last few months. I love her. She is a good time. I bet. Like adore her. But no, it was super weird.

I'm like, why are we talking about? Because I know him as like Mike. Like this is Scott's friend. Because they have the brand that they were doing. I'm like, I don't know how many times I've met him. Sierra's met him a handful of times. Like this is so weird. So you can clarify that they already have met before.

They have met a few times. Okay. So they're maybe. I'm like somebody else, please. But you know what I do like to do? I love to slide in men's DMs. You do. Oh my God.

It's so fun. What's your go-to line? So there's this guy. He's an actor and he has a schnauzer. Schnauzer's a dog. Schnauzer's a dog, which is what Winston is. So I just wrote to him. He hasn't responded.

So if you see this, fucking respond. Okay, so I said, hi, hello. Do you want to train my schnauzer, Winston? Direct? Very direct. Love it. Or I'll just hit people with the hey poppy. Oh, Poppy.

Yeah, you know what I mean? I said this numerous times yesterday. Hi, Poppy. I love it. Hi, Poppy. You're right? Is that? Don't say the name.

Okay. I know what I saw the movie that one guy's in. Yeah, probably. Good movie. Great movie, I thought. But like, you know, like, are they that hot? No. To me, it's not really about looks.

I don't really care. I have to meet someone, which is why like... You need to be attracted to something in them, but it doesn't always have to be like the looks, I guess. No. Could be their personality. It has to be their vibe. Like, if I don't get a good... This is why I can do online dating.

I'm an in-person girl. Same. You know what I mean? Like, if you saw my Instagram, what would you think? Okay. She's cute with curly hair. You're gorgeous. No, but like, you need to meet someone and like feel what their energy is.

What's their vibe? I can know right away if I'm going to like someone or not. And 98% of the men that I meet, I'm just like, ugh. You and I are in a similar vibration. Yeah. Your body tells you. You know what else is the problem, Carl? Too many sassy men out there.

I'm sick of it. Sassy men? Oh my God. There's a sassy man epidemic right now with men. Interesting. Everybody wants to be the Beyonce. Not everybody can be the Beyonce. You understand what I'm saying?

Somebody's got to be the Kelly and somebody's got to be the Michelle. And it's not going to be me. We're going to use that. I love it. I wanted to just talk, before we wrap, something that I felt like the universe put us together. Statement goes live. I just had landed in Los Angeles. Yes. I text Kyle. He doesn't answer. I call Kyle. Lindsay answers. I hear you on the phone.

I thought you were in the studio. Yeah. Lindsay answers. Kyle's there. But all of us are like talking. Yeah. Cameras rolling. Which I didn't know. Fucking Lindsay. But I didn't know you were in L.A. And I didn't know we were. I think I thought we might be on camera, but I wasn't sure, sure. See, I'm not a vet like you guys are. I thought maybe, but I didn't know what they were doing where I was calling.

Like I didn't know if it was like in the studio or are they on the sidewalk? He had his apartment. But I didn't know you were in L.A. or Orange County at the time also. So we'd hang up that phone call. Obviously, my phone's blowing up. It was emotional. It was just all sorts of feelings. I was there for a film premiere for my film that I had coming out.

I know. I come outside to, like, go to the pink dot across the street at the one hotel, West Hollywood. And I'm like, that's Mia. You're getting out of an Uber. And you just had come to check in the one hotel, the same hotel I was staying in. Is that not insane? Insane. And like, we went and hung out a little bit later that afternoon and just, like, caught up and we're like, I needed to see you that day.

I needed to see you that day. And it was just so amazing to, like, all things considered to be able to be with someone who was so closely connected to everything going on and just be there for each other. I just felt like the universe put us there. That was 100% the universe, which I'm like, I'm like, Carl? Yeah, it was like, so surreal. I'm like, I couldn't believe you were there. I felt so safe too.

Carl makes me feel so safe. Like you have this, there's this thing about you. It's your heart where I just trust you. And I'm like, you have such good intentions. You're such a good person. You're so just honest and real. And when I saw you, I gave you the biggest hug. I was so happy.

I'm like, oh my God. I felt like everything around. us was so crazy that day. So crazy. And that I just needed that safe space with you. We both named each other and I'm just glad I had you. Now, this is the last question I have to ask all of our guests. Okay. What is giving you more life right now? My puppy. Oh, I love him. Shout out to Winston. Shout out to Big Wins, not the little one. I love him so much. We should have brought him in today. Actually, we should maybe have dogs make appearances in here. Can we listen to do an interview? He would be sitting on me the entire time and staring at the

camera like this. He loves the camera. He's a very cute dog. Thank you. She gets his haircuts done right. Thank you. Shout out to Pup Studio. He is giving me so much life and he's teaching me a different level of patience. I feel like dogs can do that or animals in general can provide like, it's like a practicing for parenting. Yes. Like he, we go on our long walks in the morning and I'll sit with him and we'll just people watch. I let him smell whatever he wants to smell. And it has given me this level. of responsibility that I didn't have before. It's making me love something so much unconditionally that I haven't done before. And I'm just, he's giving me life. I love him. You know, what kind of dog do you think you would want? I like hyperalogenic. Just same. I can't deal with the shed. I don't want

to deal with the shedding. Being a bigger person, I like bigger dogs. But your dog is adorable. I have some friends with smaller animals that I enjoy. You should get a giant schnauzer. Send me some inspo picks. They're so cute. But they're like garians. If I get a schnauzer, will you train it for me? I can really train Winston, okay? You know what he does? He bullies me that dog. Really?

Oh, my God. He doesn't bark at anyone, but he barks at me when he's upset with me. That's hilarious. Do you know how exhausting that is to have a 20-pound dog scream at you? It's crazy. He's my boss. I have one last question, actually. Are Jasper and Winston friends?

Their best friends. Yeah. Jasper's Sierra's cat. He knows Jasper's name. So if I say, should we go see Jasper? He goes, Wow. And they fight like cats and dogs, but they're obsessed with each other. I love it.

Like Jasper, when he hears Winston, because Winston, I take him off the leash when I get on Sierra's floor, and he runs to Sierra's door and just sits and waits. And then Jasper will be waiting at the door because he can hear like his collar's clinking. And then as soon as they see each other, it's like, this excitement. It's insane, but it's so cute. Actually, a few times if Sierra and I are going out, I'll leave Winston with Jasper. We're upstairs.

And they just play. Can I come over and play with the dogs? Oh my God. Child, you want to watch them? I'm looking for a sitter. Let me know. Mia Calabrese, thank you for coming into more light.

Anytime. You're such a bright light. I love you so much. Seriously, thank you for your story and everything. Just you're strong and resilient and the confidence you exude and just everything you stand for as a person. I'm just a huge fan of you. And I can't wait for spend this summer with you.

Me too. Because we're going to have a fucking blast in the Hampton. Can I just say also this is the first summer that everyone's single. I'm kind of afraid. You know who I'm afraid of the most? Kyle. Every time I open the internet, every time I open Instagram, he's kissing. I was someone new.

Girl, boy, I'm like, what's going on? It's crazy. I can't wait, though. That'll be good. I can't wait to see it. Everyone's going to be so fun. It's going to be good. All right.

Well, thank you guys for hanging with me on More Life. Give it up for Mia Calabrese. We love you guys. So you can watch or listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, wherever you listen to your podcasts, like, subscribe, review. Show us some love, guys. We appreciate you. We'll catch you next time here at SoftBarr in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

More Life is produced by Annie Siegel and executive produced by Adam Reynolds of Denham Pictures. This episode was directed by Annie Siegel, edited by Mikey Ortiz, and recorded at SoftBarr Studios in Brooklyn, New York. More Life is a production of Sony music entertainment. From Sony, our executive producers are Chris Skinner and Joanna Clay. Original music by Function Adams. Sound mixing by Ian Sorrentino. Set design by Michael Ignacio.

Publicity by Caitlin Healy. Additional support from Abby Sharp. And a special thanks to Alison Shano and Joanna Orland. New episodes drop every Tuesday. We'll see you next time.