Not Skinny But Not Fat - Standup & VPR w/ Rachael O’Brien

Episode Date: September 24, 2019

You may have seen Rachael O’Brien on Vanderpump Rules as Kristen’s bff, or Jax’s Ex, but Rachael is also a comedian, actress and podcast host. Amanda talks to her about whether or not she regrets not taking a lead on VPR, why she walks around LA with mace, how she got roped in to the Botox epidemic but doesn’t even really need it and got a funny but scary side effect! Tune in and LOL. This episode was brought to you by: FabFitFun is a women's lifestyle subscription box filled with full-size, premium beauty, fitness, wellness, home, and lifestyle products. Head to FabFitFun.com and use code "NOTSKINNY" upon checkout for $10 off your first box. Woosh Beauty is for women who like makeup, but knows that makeup isn't life. So they made easy makeup that looks good. Get 30% off your entire order by heading to WooshBeauty.com and using promo code "NOTSKINNY" during checkout. The Not Skinny But Not Fat Podcast is produced by The Podglomerate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The other thing I used to do when I was younger, probably a lot of people did this, I'd walk and obviously think I was like in a movie and someone's walking behind me. And I'd pick up my phone and be like, dad, are you coming back from the police station? Or are you having a late shift? And I'd like talk to my fake dad. Wait, that's so smart. I think that we're actually very streets at me, to be perfectly honest. This is not skinny but not fat. And I'm your host, Amanda, here to bring you the latest in all pop culture news, celebrity gossip, reality TV recaps, anything happening in Hollywood right now

that I just can't keep my mouth shut about. This is not skinny, but not fat. Hey guys, this week I'm chatting with Rachel O'Brien from Vanderpump Rules. She's an actress, an actor, she's a comedian, she's BFF with everyone on VPR, and she has, also appeared in several episodes as Kristen's best friend. She also dated Jacks. And she's also hilarious. So enjoy my combo with her. I'm welcoming a very special guest right now, Rachel O'Brien, who is an actress, a comedian, a podcasteress, which is a podcastress, which a word I just made up. Oh, I like it.

Is on Vanderpump Rules, my favorite show of all times. I'm legit, barely on that show. But sure, if you're a big fan of background characters on Vanterpump Rules. Well, duh. But the thing is like, first of all, if you're a big fan of the show, then you would know everyone on the show. Good call. Good call.

So obviously, I know Rachel O'Brien, but I need to ask you, first and foremost, and most importantly. Your name is spelled AEL. Listen, I know. It's very confusing. I think that I would have more followers on social media if I wasn't so goddamn hard to find. And you would have an easier life. Like I just like I thought about you. I swear to God, I'm such a compassionate person. I literally thought of you. And I was like her whole life, people spelled her name wrong, her whole entire life. I really don't care if people spell it wrong. But like, but like, but it. it is a weird name even when like people put it in like search engines because also my last name like any search engine doesn't recognize apostrophies they're very confused by it so it's a

whole thing it's been hard you know i'm i'm in counseling for it are you like Raquel or something originally or your parents from somewhere unique and they like have different spelling is there a reason behind this um first of all i wish i was Raquel that's so much jazzier than Rachel um my whole life would be so much different. I would be so much more sexy, I think, and alluring if I was at Raquel. But no, my dad is Michael and it spelled the same way. So I think they made me Rachel. And then I think I was also named after an actress that spells it this way. Which one? Well, someone from like this 60s or 70s. I don't know. Okay. Well, anyway, because when I did, you know, just a little bit of searching for your name and I was like, and no, first I saw my

producer write it and I was like, Jeff is such an idiot. And then I was like, wait, that's how she spells it. And then I saw you come up in a different place, but it was spelled just with the E. And I was like, wait, who's wrong here? So then, yeah. So a very unique name and everyone, it's AEL. Thank you. I love how compassionate you are towards it.

I am. I am. Listen, I'm Amanda. It doesn't get easier than that to spell. So I've had no issues with it. It's not spelled any, like, fancy way. No, I wish. Even though the fun thing about my name is that.

that apparently, like, it's Spanish. Amanda's or Hershey's? No, Amanda. Amanda. Yeah. So wherever I go, people speak to me in Spanish. And I love it. But I speak some Spanish, so it works out for me.

And then later in life, I found out that in Latin, Amanda means she who must be loved. Oh, well, this is great news for you. So you know what I did, Rachel? You know what the first thing I did after finding that out was? What? I got a tattooed on. myself. You got Amanda, the one who must be loved? No, I got, I got, um, I got she who must be loved. I love that. That's really cute. I, I, I, I, first of all, I must be loved. Yeah. I'm, like,

very needy and I need everyone to love me. So, like, where's it at? It's under my bosom. Okay. So, all right. So let's just say, for example, you start dating a guy and you take your shirt off for the first time. Don't you feel like it's a little bit of pressure? Well, Rachel. Luckily, I got it when I was already married, so there was no press and he must love me till the day he dies. So we're good with that. Yeah, he was already legally bound into it. Yeah.

But it would be. But like sometimes it could like it's a little bit narcissistic, but I'm a little bit narcissistic. So I'm like kind of okay with that. You wouldn't have a podcast or be an entertainment. I mean, like there's no one that is in the position that we're in that's not a little bit narcissistic. It's not a little bit. I actually listened to your podcast, which is called Be Here for a While.

Yes. Well, I want to know, first of all, where that name came from and, like, what you mean. Is it just like, I'm going to be here for a while, bitch, like, get used to it? No, actually. So oddly enough, Stasi's ex-boyfriend Patrick, it was when they were still dating. He kind of helped me come up with it because he worked in radio. Now I hate that fact because, you know, now she's getting married to Bob, but whatever. And everyone kind of hates Patrick.

Yeah, he really just didn't show his best side on the show. But so I think I kind of had like the idea of it. But I had like 10 other names and he seemed to like that one the best. But it was like, it's based on like that old like hacky joke comedians used to do or the thing he used to say at the end of jokes. Like, I'll be here all night. Oh, I see. Okay.

Yeah. And also like a play on just I think it's probably just like I'm not going anywhere type of thing. Oh, okay. got it. Yeah. Well, I like it. And I also, I actually listened to your episode with Alexis Nyers. And I was like obsessed with that show, which I'm not sure a lot of people were. I don't know if I'm like who watched it. Well, it only had one season, right? Right. But it was, it was called Pretty Wild. And it was about like this like L.A. family that was like cookie, but also about that girl Alexis Nyer is being in like the blingering that like robbed Parasilton's house and

whatever. So at first I was like a rando guest to have on Rachel. But then I was like, oh, like, what a good episode. I loved her story. It's fascinating. She's fascinating. And I hear you, her being like, heroin, this. And you're like, mm-hmm. You're like, uh-huh.

So when you, yep, same. I got it? Same. Sure. Yeah. So how do you? I've never even done Molly or whatever. Like, I think I said that on the podcast.

If someone was like, I'm rolling, I'd be like, what's that mean? And I don't do you. so you don't do drugs you don't do drugs is that like is there a reason i just don't i i never even like saw a drug until i was like in my early 20s like i just i don't know like i just think it's like i don't really see the point not even pot i think i saw pot i may even like no i think i may even smoked it like once in high school but i knew right away oh yeah i did i did once in high school and then my friend, I picked up the phone, I dialed the operator and told the operator that I needed to confess something to our parents. Yes. So that, so that gives you like an idea of what I'm like

in the cool crowd. Wait, wait, wait. So you tried pod or saw it. Yeah, I did try it. I'm remembering it now. You tried it. And then who did you called your parents? No, I called the operator, oddly enough. Like I just dialed zero on a landline phone. Because I just felt like I got real paranoid. I had to tell someone. Oh, my God. That's so funny. And I guess I expected the operator to relay the message. But I don't think I got that far into it.

Because now I remember, yeah, my friend Sabrina was like, no, we grabbed the phone from you and practically tackled you to the ground. Wait, is it like you don't want to lose control? You're like a control freak. Is it like anxiousness to like have a mind-altering experience or is it just like not interested? I think it's a combination of all of it. Like, I don't like the thought of, like, like, I know how much I can drink before I'm drunk. And I know I can drink water in between.

Like, I know how that works, do it in a while. But, like, I don't like the thought of putting a pill or a substance in my body. And it may have a weird reaction and I can't get it out. Yeah. No, 100%. I'm, like, an anxious baby. So I don't like that either. And to me, people who, like, do drugs are, like, brave.

You know what I mean? Yeah. You're so brave. Like, you don't even know what's going to. to happen to you and you're like willing to do it. Yeah. It's so good. I think they don't care.

Or I feel like it's like a slippery slope of like if you've done it enough and nothing bad happened, then you're just like, whatever. Yeah. No, it's kind of crazy. So that was a really, really good podcast. Thank you. She's really interesting. And I thought I was going into here like a comedy podcast.

So I was, um, so that's why I wanted to also hear from you like what, like how would you describe your podcast and like what kind of guess you have on and like what, you're sort of trying to do with that. Yeah. Well, I mean, I guess it was like it started out as technically a comedy podcast just because I'm a comedian and I was like, I guess that's a category I go under. And sometimes it is just funny stuff. But I like, I just started just interviewing people I found interesting. Like I like hearing interesting stories. Like I've even had like some true crime stuff on. So I mean, I'm not trying to do anything with it other than like, you know, put out entertaining content that's interesting to me, and I believe is interesting to my listeners.

And also, like, I've even started, like, trying to, like, I don't know, give, like, positive encouragement to people. Like, I just don't want to be a podcast that's, like, all about just, like, you know, just complaining about stuff or being like, yeah, I got fucked up this weekend. And, like, I don't want to put up something that doesn't either teach someone something or entertain them in a way that's not just sort of vapid. I don't know. Yeah.

No, for sure. There are podcasts I listened to that I'd walk down the street and it looks like I'm like amening. I'm like, mm-hmm. Like. Which ones do you listen to? Well, I think what got me started on podcast is Dax Shepards. Oh, it's good. He's so good.

He does two hours, which is crazy to me. Yeah, it's a little long. And it's crazy to think that you like will give two hours of your life and listen. But sometimes I listen to it in parts or I choose just the guest that I like. But he actually got me into listening to podcasts. And then to be like really honest with everyone, like when I started mine and I have to like put in so much time and effort, which I enjoy, but it makes it harder for me to then like listen to other podcasts. You know what I mean? Do you feel the same way? I was like that at first. I like never listened to any other podcasts.

But now I've like been on a podcast binge. And so it's like I listen to that more than I do music now. Oh, wow. Yeah, but I was like that at first. But now it's just kind of interesting to, like, hear what works for people and, like, I don't know. I also, like, really love true crime podcasts, so. Yeah, and people love that shit, too. I feel like I don't fall. Like, I'm not, like, a true crime person, but that is.

I didn't think I was, but I am. Really? Oh, yeah. I mean, I've always been fascinated by it, but, like, I never was, like, you know, constantly listening or watching things about it. But once I started listening to, I'm like, this is so fascinating. like about murders and stuff yeah but it's not great for your sleep like i at least i would say five out of seven nights a week i'm convinced someone's about ready to come into my house oh my god that's so scary

i check my locks i have you do you live alone yeah uh and like a very safe building and like whatever but i've now just made myself so unbelievably paranoid oh my god no that's really scary That's really scary. I think that's why I choose I'm not a security cat. Like I'll watch scary movies and everything but people that are obsessed with like murder and stuff. I'm like wait but then don't you like think about all day and all night? But it does also make you

more aware. Like I go running a lot and even during the day like I don't have my headphones on too loud like I'm hyper aware of like anything could happen at any time. Like people go missing all the time in the middle of the day. I also have a taser. So there's Oh my God. No Rachel

I think that the true crime is getting to you. Listen, it's also really fun. Well, some, like, I rarely do this and I should really not do it, but I live really close to the comedy store. So when I perform there, and if it's not like too late or too dark, I'm like, it's like a quarter mile, I should just walk home. And so I'll walk home, but I fire off warning shots with the taser as I'm walking because I'm like, I look so crazy, no one will mess with me. Oh my God. I can't. Wait, where's the comedy store? Is it on... Sunset Boulevard.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I know where that is. I know where that is. That is... I really, if you just make yourself look crazy enough, no one's going to mess with you. I used to go on the subway and obviously think I was really hot, so I thought everyone, like, wanted to, like,

attack me and molest me. And I would make the ugliest faces, like, for real. And this is a game I would play with myself, because I'd be taking the subway home at, like, three in the morning, which I don't know how my mom let me, but I would. Oh, how scary? And I would just make these, like, faces or, like, curl my lips in. So just, like, my guns were showing. And I do this just to look, like, unattractive. That's amazing. And no joke, I've done that before, too.

Like, when someone, like, if I'm running or walking or whatever and, like, someone, like, creepily, like, whistles or something, I will then just make the ugliest face at them. That is so smart. I really feel like this is like, because I'm picturing, the warning shots is hilarious. And then my subway thing is funny. Oh, your subway thing is hilarious. But I'm just hilarious but I'm just picturing like like let's say you're really scared of someone on the street and just fucking act weird like be like really like start looking like a gremlin like monster and like you want to mess with you it's brilliant honestly brilliant you guys um because the other thing I used to do when I was younger probably a lot of people did this I'd walk and obviously think I was like in a movie and someone's walking behind me and I'd pick up my phone and be like dad are you coming back from the police station or you having a late shift? And I'd like talk to my fake dad. Wait, that's so smart. I think that we're actually very streets at me, to be perfectly honest. First of all, I think we might be paranoid

to have all these tricks. But yeah, I used to talk to my fake dad that works at a fake police station and be like, oh, so you're coming with a gun home tonight? I see. Okay. Are you, you're a block away with a gun, dad? Okay. Yeah. No, no, I'm fine dad, but if you just want to trail me with a gun. it's so funny that's so i mean but you know it's funny but then it's like when you think about the fact that us ladies have to think about this crazy shit and be so scared it's like kind of sad but it's um it's really sad but at least we have our tricks and our ugly faces and i think i think we can teach a self-defense class honestly i really have a feeling like you would never be in the position where you needed to learn the physical contact and attack so i really think this is

really good for your stand-up. Like, I feel like you need to do this for your stand-up. Maybe I will do a bit on it. I'll credit you for a part of it. No, not even, I just think it's so funny to say, like, who needs self-defense and, like, you know, boxing people and, you know, giving them a shin in their

balls when you can just, like, act like a wild goose on the street. Like a will-to-meat. That is hilarious. We're going to take a quick break and be right back. Today I want to tell you guys about FabFit Fun. FabFit Fun is a women's lifestyle subscription box filled with full-size, premium beauty, lifestyle, fitness, home and wellness products that get sent straight to your doorstep each season. I got my fall box and a few things I loved were the Anthropology Travel Yoga mat, the Wander Beauty baggage claimed gold eye mask, which you follow me on Instagram and probably saw me trying it on on my stories.

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off your first box. That is not skinny for $10 off your first box at www. www.fifitfun.com. So you live alone, but you have a boyfriend I heard now. You're not single. Yes, I do. I do.

But you used to talk a lot about like being single and single life like on your podcast, right? So how did that? like work now that you're not single and you can't i mean i just have other stuff to talk about i mean i just yeah i mean you heard the alexis nears one where i talked about the fact that i got um bad botox that seeped into my facial muscles now i can't smile i wanted to talk wait is that still happening yeah i went to the doctor like two weeks afterwards which was just monday and i was like yo what's up with my face also i'm a comedian i'm supposed to smile and laugh

for a living and i couldn't do it like i had to headline a show in seattle for for an hour without being able to really move my mouth fully. Oh, my God. I mean, I made a joke out of it. But yeah, so it was, and he was like, oh, it's like happens in like one in a thousand people. Like, great. So I should get a lottery ticket.

And the scary thing is, okay, so first of all, yeah, so Rachel was telling on her podcast that she got Botox. She's gotten it before. But this time it made her face like not move at all for a while. Yeah. I guess he said like it. So obviously I didn't get, you can't get boatox. docks near your mouth, I don't think. But I didn't get it there. I got it just, like,

lightly around my eyes and then, like, in between my eyebrows. But I guess he is like, I think it just some trickled down into, I don't know. Oh, you guessed, motherfucker? You guess? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But you know what, like, struck me the most about what you said was you were like, I don't even know why I get it. I don't even have wrinkles. Like, what has a lay done to me? Like, why do I even get this shit? So why, Rachel? I don't know. Because I just think it, I guess it's preventative? Who knows? I mean, I have like, I have like little like crow's feet when I smile, but they're not at rest. But who doesn't

when they smile? You're crunching up your face. But who cares? I know. I know. Listen, I've, I drink the poison. Wait, how old are you? But I don't do anything else. Yeah. I get out, but my just mid to late 20s. No, I'm like early, very early 30s. What? Your early 30s and you're embarrassed to say your age? I don't know. Listen, I'm an actress. I need them to cast me.

She's 17 for the CW. I need them to cast me to play like maybe college. She's 17. She could be on the gossip girl reboot. Yeah, I'm available. Listen, I could be like James Vanderbeek, who looked about 38 when he was playing. He really did. High school.

He really did. But we were too young and stupid to like think about that. You know what I mean? Oh, I noticed. Oh, you did? I was like, I was like, this guy's, this is the worst casting ever. Oh, my God. the James Vanderbeak that is I wonder how old he actually was when he was doing that that is so funny so okay so but I want to go back um because you are a comedian and an actress and 17 and wanting to be in the CW so tell me a little bit about where you were born how you um you grew up and how you decided you wanted to be a comedian slash actress uh okay so I grew up in a small town in Oregon uh called

well i went to high school a place called warrington but everyone knows that story and war that's where i grew up as a kid was where the goonies were filmed in that place that's all we have oh no we also have kindergarten cop and i was an extra in kindergarten cop a featured extra oh at what age well i was in kindergarten when kindergarten cop was made so they took people out of our kindergarten class and gave us some featured extra parts they cut my scene because they didn't know talent and yeah but that was but i so but i did grow up around a lot of movies. They filmed free willy on my street. Like I grew up around like a lot of like movies being filmed in my little town. It's a very small town.

And but I was also like I was a dancer and I was just, I was obnoxious. I was just weird and really like to put on a lot of performances and change my name and act out S&L skits. Like I was just whatever. But I didn't know like, well, I didn't know like being a standup comic could be like a career. Like I was like, oh, either. they're like I'll be on a Zanelle or I'll be an actress or something. And so I always knew that I wanted to be like to the point where my eighth grade, you know, you write those like prophecies

of like what you're going to be when you're older. And then you mail it like you save it in the envelope and you don't save it. No, you just wrote it in the yearbook. And thank God I was on the editing staff of the yearbook. So I got to keep my really bizarre quote in. And my, um, so other kids were like, I want to be a teacher. I want to be a mom. I want to be a basketball player. Mine said, I want to go on a road trip in a rainbow-colored Volkswagen van, moved to New York while I would own and run my own studio 54, then move to L.A. and become a famous actress and never look back. Makes no sense.

Wait, what? How old were you when you wrote this? Eighth grade. Apparently, I thought I was bringing the 60s and 70s back as well. Yeah. Like, it's like kind of like half really mature and like, wow, how were you so like advanced and half like you were still a baby? Well, I also kind of just was trying to be funny,

but the actors part of it was correct. So, yeah, I knew. And then, yeah, and then moved to L.A. after college. Also, you went to college for acting or just for something else? No, my parents wouldn't just let me move to L.A. So I went to college, but I went to University of Oregon. But I finished in three years. I finished quickly so I could get down here.

And I took whatever the easiest degree was to finish, which was political science. And I knew that because that's what all the athletes took. But isn't that fun? money like so your parents because otherwise you wouldn't have gone to college or you would have studied acting if your parents were like if it wasn't important to them um I don't I think I well first of all I didn't even admit to them until like maybe my first year of college that I wanted to move to L.A. and be an actress. I mean I think I would talk about it lightly but I think that I don't

think they ever thought I would do it and I think that I knew that I had to at least finish that portion which I did I mean I graduated when I was 20 so it was pretty. young. So I think I at least knew I had to finish that portion so I could have a little bit of their support. You know, like at least he's got a degree. Um, so yeah. But I think, no, I don't think they would have been too thrilled with me. Just being like, nah, I'm not going to college. Yeah, but it's so, because I talked to my husband about this the other day and I was like, because I studied communications and I feel like it was just like, because no, who, oh, I was to, I interviewed a celebrity hairstylist and I was so jealous that she,

from a young age, knew she wanted to be a hairstylist. You know what I mean? Like had this like, she was like 16 and she was like, I want to style hair, you know? And convinced her like really strict like Persian parents that she's not going to be a lawyer or a doctor, but she's going to, she wants to do hair, which wasn't, you know, like that's really cool to be like that brave and like that strong of your conviction. Yeah. So I thought that was really. cool and then to like you said like have that conviction to be like this is what I want to do and like know that you want to do that and do something not conventional for like where you're from

and who you are and um so I get jealous of that of professions that are like so you know niche and specific because I was like 18 went to my guidance counselor she was like you're really good with people like you should study communications and I was like okay and looked for the best school for communications because I was like if I'm going to go then it should be good then decided based on like who gave me like enough like scholarship you know what I mean like no decision was made out of like you know which I'm sure you feel the same way because you weren't like I'm going to be a political scientist I'm just kidding but I felt like I did I knew my first year of college I got to get to L.A. How do I get out of here? How did you think L.A. and not New York like was it like a debate or

did you? Well, I'm from, I mean, I guess it's just because I'm from the West Coast, and I feel like LA has more opportunity. And by that time, my parents had a vacation home in Palm Springs. So, like, I was going to California a lot. And I don't know. And my mom's sort of half from California. I don't know. So I just seemed, it just seemed right. Oh, it wasn't like this far off place, like, beyond now. And it felt like that, I mean, I didn't, I moved there alone. And I moved there on a lie, too. So I was kind of calculating, but just, I like, I'm impressed by that girl who would like say that to her parents but like I literally just was like I have to get there but I have to find creative ways to do it so I like said to my parents I need

to go down to LA for a job interview like right after college and it might have just been an internship it was nothing I maybe lasted a week at whatever it was but I went on this dumb interview that no one told me I had to stop start the next day but I called my parents they were like they said I have to start tomorrow so I guess I can't come back so if you could just and you were 20 yeah 21 I turned 21 like right after I graduated I was 21 so I was like if you could just like move my stuff down here this would be great for me uh and this job and then that I literally probably did it a week and then started taking acting classes and got agents and like got a waitressing job I hood waked up but rachel that's not too easy

you're saying it like it's easy it's not easy to get an agent I mean it was just like a commercial agent like a print agent at first yeah yeah but i'm saying like you put in the work you like went to to acting classes yeah got in yeah so you knew so you what you had the conviction and the i had a plan you had a plan yeah and you moved there alone that's like a big a deal i wasn't really afraid at all i don't you weren't afraid that's what young age does yeah totally today i'd be like i don't think i would i mean i travel everywhere alone I mean, around the world. I mean, I just went with my friend Natasha as a comedian.

We just did a tour in Europe. But, like, I would have done that alone. It's been fine. That's crazy. Yeah, I saw you did a tour in Europe in English? Yeah. Yeah, because it was, yeah, no, I learned seven different languages. I'm a blonde.

You guys, okay? That was the hardest part of it was just Rosetta stowing my way through the winter so I can get ready for this spring tour. No, it was like, and the people that, came to the shows they were like already like my podcast listeners and stuff so it wasn't like there weren't a lot of just like random germans or you know parisians or whatever just wandering into the show it was like was it more like americans that are living in these places no no there were people like there were no americans that came to our show in frog it was all people that you know

lived in frog but they you know spoke great english and had listened to my podcast and stuff so yeah oh that's crazy you have like an international podcast as following. I guess so. I mean, I don't know. It's probably just like a few people sprinkle throughout, but enough that it worked, yeah. That's amazing. And so would you, do you like doing stand-up more or like, would you dream be more to be like acting and like television and movies and stuff? I mean, I'll never stop doing stand-up. That would be like cutting off an arm. It's like my favorite thing to do. But I'll just do that simultaneously with like, I write too. I went to grad school for screenwriting. So like, you know, all.

do stand-up simultaneously while writing and hopefully starring in the movies and TV shows I I make. Yeah, I won't stop. So there's... So that's like a, that's like the goal to be like working all the time performing and also doing stand-up. Yeah, 100%. And I have like the podcasting and stand-up thing down. Like that's all I do. I don't have like a side job or anything, but it would be, the goal is to expand it into many other things in entertainment. So what's like, which stand-up comedian, do you, like, look up to the most? Like, who's, like, it for you? That's a good question.

Look up to is different. Like, was there anyone? Well, no, was there anyone who was doing standout that you're like, I want to be like this person? Like, that's a kind of like standup comedian I want to be or that made you kind of. I mean, I just find people that I think are like some of the funniest people. But, like, I don't know if there's any like specific, I'm trying to think specific career. I mean, I like Judd-Appata's career.

Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, Ellen's career is great, too. David Spade. I was obsessed with David Spade and Chris Farley when I was a kid. Oh, he's so good. He's so good. And he's coming back. He's coming back big time.

He's got a new show. He's got a new show and he like, because I recap a lot of like shows. So I do like Bachelor Nation stuff. And my followers always tell me like that he does like similar stuff. So I came across like, and I just love it. He's so funny. He's so sarcastic. I love it. He's so sarcastic. I love that kind of humor, that like sarcastic, like dry.

Dry humor. We're going to take a quick break and be right back. So we do want to talk about Vanderpump Rules just a little bit. So where were you, I guess, were you friends with anyone before the show, started filming. Yeah. I mean, I always say that there wouldn't be the underpunk rules without me and Kristen and Jacks

because when I first, the first year I lived in L.A., and it was before Kristen even lived here full time, Kristen was still flying in from Michigan. And Kristen and I were doing modeling jobs together. And we were doing a lot of like fit modeling, which is where you just like try on jeans for people. I don't know.

And... Wait, how did you know her then if she's from Michigan? She, we just got cast on the same modeling job. So then we became friends through that. And then we happened to be on another modeling job that Jacks was working like across. Like we were at like this like clothing convention in Vegas. He was across the way. Jacks came over, um, basically hit on me.

Jacks and I started dating. Then Jacks and I introduced Kristen and Sanibald. And this is like 12 years ago or more. I don't know. Oh my God. So is that right when you moved sort of? Yeah. He was the first person I dated.

Oh my God. That's crazy. That's a crazy story. But now it doesn't even, it's been so long. It's like, I would say it's like bankruptcy. It cancels out. Like, it's, I don't even think of us as having dated. But you were, but was it like for a few months? No, we did it for like a year and like,

Oh, my God. Oh, yeah. Was he a good boyfriend? What do you think? Did you watch the show? Just take a guess. But you seem like the kind of girl that like a take no show. kind of girl. And I, and I didn't. Like, white when I found out he cheated on me, I broke up with him

instantly. But there was a lot of, like, I saw him as, like, really troubled back then. And I, which probably is. Yeah. Oh, he very much is. And, I mean, he's not now, but, like, he was then. He was very confused. And he admits to all this. And so I felt like I needed to, like, stay with him to, like, help him out. He didn't need my help, clearly. But, um, yeah. And then, Yeah, so we broke up. And then... You introduced Kristen and Sandoval. Yeah, because Sandoval was one of Jackson friends.

Kristen was my friend, so then we introduced them. And then, no, he wasn't, he was roommates in Sandoval after we broke up, I think. Oh, maybe they were roommates in Miami, too. I don't remember. But, yeah, and then after Jackson and I broke up, I didn't talk to, because Kristen was studying Sandoval, I didn't talk to her for a little while. And obviously, I wasn't talking to Jax. and then Chris and I would sort of connect here and there

but then I went out with one of my friends and was one of the field producers on Banner Pump was like second season or something and she was just asking me a bunch of questions about them and I was like yeah I know them and then they called me and it was basically like Kristen had ruined all of her friendships in second season they were like we really need Kristen to have a friend and so ask me ask me if I would do the show

and I Oh wait so when the When the first season came on You weren't really in like I hadn't been talking to them So how did it feel like was it super weird Were you like jealous what like what were you feeling when Not at all I didn't even really watch it

No I mean reality TV wasn't anything I wanted to do And that was that was back at a time when it was still like We're kind of risky to do it now I don't think people care But I still was like I really want to be taken seriously. It's like, and not, not to say that they're not, I mean, frankly, I'm so proud of them. Like, it has opened so many doors for them. But I've always been very okay with taking a slower route, but to do it the way I want to do it.

Yeah. So, and that's why, I mean, I didn't even fully, you know, conform to what the show won. So they asked me to come in for an on-camera interview. I said, yes. And then they were like, hey, we want you to do the show. I was like, okay. And then they said, but you need to work at the restaurant. And I was like, I'm not going to say I work.

at a restaurant when I don't work at a restaurant. Because at that time, I wasn't like, I wasn't a professional comedian in the sense of like I didn't have a side job, but I didn't have like a public side job. So I could have easily just been like, yeah, I'm a professional comedian. Right. Because I was just managing apartment buildings, but like no one knew that really. But you didn't want to be a waitress. You didn't want to act like a waitress. I didn't want to act like a waitress and I didn't want to, yeah, like take a, it's not like a step down, but like I was supporting myself just fine doing what I was. I just didn't want to pretend and I didn't want, I don't know,

and I didn't want to be that involved with, I was, yeah. So then I said, no, I didn't want to work at the restaurant. And they were like, cool, you can't be on the show. I was like, no prob. And then they called me like a week later. And they were like, actually, we want you and we'll introduce you doing stand-up. So the first scene I ever filmed was me doing stand-up with the improv. And I was like, yes, of course I will do that.

Yeah, you're like, hell yeah. Yeah. And that was, wait, was that the, episode with Kristen where she did stand up too? No, that was like a that was like a few seasons later or a season. It was just a quick clip. I'm wearing like a red dress. It's the first time I'm introduced. And it's basically like I tell like a half of a joke that was not funny because it was a half of a joke, maybe even a quarter of a joke. And wait, does it say Rachel's friend? I mean, yeah, it says like Rachel Kristen's friend. And and the stand-up airs is like a flashback sort

of. Oh, okay. I feel like a lot of your scenes. were stand-up because there was that the time that you did it with um with Kristen right you brought her on and then was there there was another time we like the reading the diary were you there in the reading the diary scene I watched it but I wasn't I wasn't on that that was Ariana and Tom's thing that was Ariana yeah so who would you say does better stand up Ariana or Kristen well neither of them do stand-up I know but did on the show um well I forgot what they aired of Kristen's but Kristen did a really job like that so we filmed i don't know if they i can't remember if they aired the first time we did like a stand-up thing but the second time um i'm talking about like as a group uh because chris

and i did it twice two seasons in a row i don't remember but christen actually did a really good job if you saw the whole thing like we wrote it well she did there was the jack's penis thing that she drew right and then brittney got mad yeah that was one of the times yeah that was actually like a sketch written by uh someone else in this like sketch group we formed but yeah but whatever um yeah i would say well but aryana wasn't trying to do stand-up she was just reading from a diary and she'll say that like she hates when people are like like making fun of him she's like i wasn't trying to do stand-up i was reading from a diary so i'm gonna have to go with i'm gonna have to go with christin because we actually forced her to do at least like an opening monologue of the stand-up set

so yeah and you're still really close with with christian oh yeah she just got a tattoo with my handwriting it on like last week like a tom petty what's written learning to fly that song by tom petty so like i wasn't with her but i she had me write it down on like a piece of paper and take a photo of it and send it to her and she got it why do you have do you have nice for handwriting no it's just like to have it as a memory because we're so close and we both love classic rock and stuff oh that's so nice so did it like was it ever hard for you to watch when she was sort of like getting a lot of shit on the show and like oh yeah of course yeah i mean part of it like i mean she's not innocent i mean but at the same time like i do feel like the whole crazy christian thing has been really run

into the ground it's like you know yeah she's not she's because everyone's fucking crazy everyone's crazy and she's like really one of the sweetest people in the world yeah and i think that is like said a lot like i feel like even when she gets shit like i feel like i've heard stasi say and other people say like that she has a really big heart and is very loved but yeah she doesn't get the best edit maybe yeah are you close with everyone else on the show as well yeah pretty much um i don't not get along with anyone i'm just trying to think yeah i mean yeah i mean everyone for the most part like last weekend i was hanging out at brittian jacks i mean we all really hang out quite a bit and so we not quite as much now though because i feel like

everyone's like bought houses and moving in living in the valley and like they're you know everyone's really coupled up so it's not as much of like just friends hanging out it's just friends hanging out it's like we all do stuff as like groups or it but a lot of times it's like the couples will all do stuff and I'm usually not doing that are you going to be on season eight was that what we just filmed yeah I mean I'm there for a lot of things I don't know yeah oh because they film thing right Because sometimes they film, like, right. And sometimes there are like events or things for the show. So you're invited because you're,

you're friends with the group. Yeah, yeah. But I'm not doing like one-on-one lunch scenes or anything. I see where you're saying. Yeah. Were you ever caught in the midst of like beef while filming or while not filming? Like, were you ever part of like some major drama that you can tell us about? I mean, I would say like the main one was when Kristen brought, or she didn't bring it.

The Miami girl came or whatever in Ari. And I didn't know Ari. at the time. And then when it was so funny, so Ariana did my podcast. And we've, like, she's apologized to me

and I've apologized to her. And it actually was me first that realized. So I remember when Ariana was like, on the beach and saying, like, I just don't find Rachel funny even though she's never seen my stand-down.

And I was like so hurt by that because I was like, you've never even seen it. That's my career. And you're saying like on national TV, like you're whatever. Yeah. Which ended up,

people were actually really nice to me about that. So it was fine. But like, so mean. And then I thought, what could I have done? What could I have done to upset her? And then I was like, oh, oh, I was with Kristen when they brought Miami girl in. I really didn't know me. Of course she hates me. And so we talked about that. Like, yeah. Oh, I see. So you feel like she said that because like, oh yeah, she'd missed her to like retaliate because like when she brought the, when Kristen brought that Miami girl, you were with her? Yeah.

Weren't you like, Kristen, what the fuck are you doing? Well, when she started. like screaming and stuff at Diana yeah but I also was just like if I just stand still and close my eyes maybe I'll disappear and no one will notice I'm here wait what did she say Diana goes like a dick yeah so funny wow so that was which now they're like they're really good friends they were friends right after that too that's really funny that you were there for that so that's like one of the craziest things you were around for you're saying oh yeah for sure no that was I think I've been around for crazy I don't know but I mean there's I mean even off camera there there's like fights and stuff.

Yeah, they never disappoint. They never, ever disappoint. So you were saying that there was part of you that didn't want to be on the show because of your career and stuff. And do you still feel the same way? Like, do you ever have any regrets that you didn't put on the sur dress

and start working there? No, I really, I really don't. I mean, I would be lying up. I said there hasn't been like a fleeting thought of like, well, if I just would have participated more like, you know, maybe I'd be selling a thousand person theaters as opposed to a couple hundred person theaters, you know, when I, when I tour, but then I'm like, I'll get there anyways. It doesn't matter.

And I'm not good at reality TV. Like, I don't, I get uncomfortable when people are fighting. And also, they don't care about, like, me saying sarcastic, funny comments on camera. Like, they want to hear people fighting and stuff. And I just, I don't really do that. I see where you're saying. I'd rather, I'd rather just, like, I'd rather just, you have to you have to be, like, a confrontational person and I'm just not. I don't care enough about anything yeah you have to start shit yeah sometimes i wonder sometimes i wonder because it's it's people think it's really glamorous and really cool and then you have to remember that you have to do some shit you know what i mean and you have like show every part of your life and it can be really

hard i'm sure for them and oh yeah and that that's why they deserve everything they have from it like money and the projects and all that because they really do they really have put themselves out there and they have to face a lot of criticism and stuff. Like, I commend them. I think it's great. So you're a huge supporter. I also saw you had Naomi from Southern Charm. So you watch other Bravo shows.

Well, she's also my friend. Oh, cool. Yeah, Stossie and I stalked Naomi and Danny from Southern Charm a couple years ago and flew to Charleston and forced them to be our friend. No, you're lying. Our best friend. Swear to go. We literally like, we like, we like a start.

I started talking to them on, like, Twitter, and then, like, they casually were like, you guys should come to Charleston sometime. And you were like, okay. Yeah. And we literally like, we could have seemed creepy. That actually sounds really creepy, but it's so great. Yeah. We flew to Charleston and hung out.

We became all best friends, like, instantly. No. And we're close with, like, the whole cast of Southern Char. Yeah. Or not the whole cast, but I don't know some of them. When I finished VPR was like, I did. I actually started. really late. I just started watching the show like in January of this year. So I like binge it

from the beginning and, um, posted, uh, to my stories, just like highlights of what was going on. And, um, people really connected with people that watch it were like, oh my God, you know, people love like those iconic scenes. And so that became, you're talking about, um, you only started watching Banner Pump in January of this year. Oh, wow. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, so I started recapping like my, um, my binge. And then when I finished it, it was a sad day. And, and, um, and, And everyone was like, do Southern Charm, do Southern Charm. So I just started Southern Charm. And because I'm like supposed to be a really big Bravo person, but I'm like a fraud because like I actually don't watch enough Bravo shows.

It's so hard, you know, because I'm also a person that needs to like watch from the beginning and like know everything that went on from day one. So I saw you had Naomi and I was like, hmm. So you watch other Bravo shows? Yeah, I actually, I hadn't really watched Southern Charm in the last couple of years, but since I was having her on, I, like, binged it up to, I really don't watch a lot of TV. And I'm not trying to say that to, like, sound cool. Like, I don't know. I never, I don't know a TV. I don't have. No, it's like I just don't. Like, it gives me anxiety. Like, I've gotten better about it now. Like, I'll watch 90-day fiance and stuff. But, like, I used to be like, when I turned the TV on, I don't know what to watch. So I would just give up and then do something else. that's why i know that happens if you don't have a show to bend that's why i always like to have like one show that whenever i have that time to like turn on the tv yeah you can just have like seasons upon season so i really yeah it's very stressful if like you don't know like and you're like am i gonna like this what do i get into and like i went like years without really watching

tv i've only maybe over the last like month like forced myself to like watch tv a little bit um but you got obsessed with naomi and and danny so you were watching. Yeah. So we were watching it then. But also like, I think it was just because it was like Bravo people and like we would like talk to them like through Twitter or Instagram or whatever. And Stasi and I were just in a phase where we were just up for adventures too. That's funny. Did you meet the guys too? Oh yeah. We're like, I was just texting with Shep yesterday. Like I'm close with all them too. Oh my God. Craig. I, the thing is I thought they were both kind of cute. No, I thought Craig was really hot before.

I was like, ooh, look at the, like, hottest man on TV. And then I started watching it. I still think he looks good. But it's like, once you get to know a person, you're like, oh, Craig, you're not just like this hot guy from my computer. Oh, he's cute, though. He is cute. No, it is. It is because people were telling me to watch it after I finished Vanderpump.

So I thought it was, like, kind of like a Vanderpup adjacent show. And it's very different, but in a good way. Oh, really? You don't think it's kind of adjacent, I guess? No. I mean, it was like, when you, when I started to watch it, I was like plantations in like South Carolina. Yeah, like really rich people. And like, Catherine was like, here there were like slaves, you know, I was like, what is this show? But at the end of the day, I guess it is about people like, you know, hugging up and.

Yeah. Doing kind of the same thing. It's just in a different setting. In a different. Yeah, sometimes. Wait, how was going there to Charleston? Did you love it? Oh, it's awesome.

I've been like, let's see, Sassie and I went two or three times, and then I went last year, last spring, like 2018 and did a show there. And I forced Shep to open for me. Oh, my God. How did that go? He actually did really good. He, like, really, like, wrote some really good jokes and took it seriously. Oh, my God. Five to eight minutes up top.

I can't remember. And then brought me on the stage, yeah. That's crazy. Writing jokes is so hard. Like, it seems like, like, how, what is. the process to like what is your process is it like just thoughts that come into your head and you always write them down or how does it usually work for you yeah like i'll take notes but i don't write things out like verbatim like let's say for example i did decide to do the whole like us acting like

grimlins on the streets to like scare people away that's enough that i've written out there that next time i go on stage i'll just kind of improvise it and work it out but you'll have like points of like okay, I'll do the gremlin bed. Yeah. Oh my God. Isn't it? So you get a rush from that feeling of like going out and having people having to make them laugh? Like that's a good thing.

There's no one. They're feeling like I absolutely love it. And what if they don't, Rachel? What if they don't laugh? What does it feel like? You move on. Well, I know that it makes the, I mean, that's more rare, but it makes like the laugh so much better because you're like you get better. And then you also realize like, you know, I don't know.

Like sometimes bombing is like kind of a relief because you're like, all right, that's not going to happen again for a while and then it just forces you to get better. I mean, everyone, you know, goes through that. Because it's so different. I feel like there are people that are funny, you know, and then there's a difference between being like funny and being able to do stand up. You know what I mean? Yeah, but I think a lot of funny people could do it. I think they're just terrified of it. And I think that stand up takes a long time to get good at.

and I think that people don't want to put in the work. And, like, they don't want to experience doing a shitty bar show for two people who aren't paying attention. You know, they don't want to experience, like, all of it, going alone on the road and being in the middle of nowhere and, you know, for a week performing at a comedy club where you don't know anyone and you're just, like, alone in a hotel room afterwards, like, uh, you know? That actually sounds really cool to me.

I'm like, hmm, that sounds fun. Yeah, I mean, I think it's fun. Unless it's like, I don't know, like, I've done Reno a lot. and like you're in a casino for a week and oh my god and like Reno's not somewhere you just kind of want to walk around out so I was like literally like I would do laps around the casino outside just to get fresh air but for the most part I was inside of a casino for a week oh no I hate that I actually do I went to Vegas like two months ago for the first time and I hate it oh yeah you're not you live on the East Coast so I guess Vegas is like a thing yeah um and also it's not a thing like I wouldn't

I hated it. I like Vegas only for like a day or two. Yeah, it was just like, I'm like a person that if I'm traveling, like I want to be like seeing places and there's like, you know, like walking up and down the strip is like gross. Yeah, totally. So and then inside the casino it's like all cigarettes and like gross and depressing and people are like, so I could imagine. I could definitely imagine that.

But I definitely want to see a performer. Are you coming to New York anytime soon? I think so soon. I'm working with a booker now who I think she has been going to like fill. and then Long Island, but I probably will pop into the city and do a set, too. Let us know when you do. I will. I will.

I always have them up on my website or on my Instagram at Rachel N. O'Brien. It's like Rachel No, Brian. Okay. Well, I was just going to ask you to tell us, like, where we can find you and all that good stuff. So you're doing it for me. So, um, so Instagram is Rach, R-I-E-L-N-O-B-R-I-E-N.

And then my website is Rachel Bryan Comedy. and I mentioned I love food and I always am like cooking and putting photos and stuff on like my Insta story and people always ask me for the recipes I was like I should just start a little food blocks now there's a recipe portion of my website Oh that's so cool

And I'm adding like a travel one too No it's a lot of butter in everything No it is sort of healthy Like it's not like heavy on carbs or anything It actually is pretty healthy It's not so but that's so hard no Because you travel a lot So how you, you cooking, you have to like eat all the shit on the road.

Yeah, but I know how to eat healthy on the road. Yeah. But I'm also adding a section that's like a travel one too because I am always on the road in different cities. Like, you know, I'm going to add like recommendations and stuff because people ask me for that a lot too. So those are being updated. That's so cool. So Instagram, podcast, be here for a while available everywhere. Everywhere.

Everywhere. and website with not only your upcoming shows and everything you're doing, but also new recipes and travel blog in the near future. Yes. Cool. Well, really do let me know when you're coming to New York because I'll come. I will for sure. I'm a supporter.

Thank you. I will for sure. Do I follow you on the Insta yet? I don't know, Rachel. Do you only have the not skinny, not fat one or do you have another one? I have a personal one, but I like to. don't really use them. Okay, because I tried to find you earlier on that and I couldn't figure out which one was. Really? Yeah, I was doing it while we were talking. Oh, but I was like,

what is the actual name? It's not skinny but not fat. Oh, I thought, oh, I thought you were saying you had another personal one too. Oh, yeah, but I don't really use that one. Okay. I don't use that one. Why do you have a personal one? I only have a personal one. I don't have a, I don't have a podcast. Oh, you mean, yeah. No, but I feel like, oh, yeah, no, because my Instagram is like, um, is everything. Okay. Got it. Is everything is personal.

It's, it's, it's shows, it's memes, it's, you know. Got it, got it, got it. Your last picture is so pretty, Rachel. Oh, my God. Thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you for being here. Thank you for having me on.

It's really fun. For a while. Good one. And if you do the Gremlin bit and I'm not there because it's not New York, then have someone. videotape it. Oh, no, I'm on a percent going to do the grimlin. Because I need to see you, like, running around stage like a chimpanzee. I will do it and I will act it out.

Just for you. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. This is fun. Yeah. Okay. Bye. Bye.

Thank you guys for tuning in. I hope you enjoyed my episode this week with Rachel O'Brien. Thanks to Rachel O'Brien for joining us. And thanks to the Pudkalomerate Network, per you. for editing, producing my show, and making it everything that it is. And again, thanks to you guys for being here for rating and reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts, for making me a happy, happy lady. And I just want to tell you that I am taking a two-week hiatus, a two-week break from

podcasting. A girl needs to relax, you guys, but only two weeks. So we're going to be back. on October 15th for another episode of not skinny but not fat and until then you can dive in and listen to old episodes if you haven't listened you can relisten you can follow me on Instagram and watch my stories so you can hear my voice and you don't get withdrawal symptoms just kidding love you guys see you so soon A Sonic Universe.