Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Teddi Mellencamp | Conquering Skin Cancer & Navigating Nepo Baby Life

Episode Date: April 9, 2024

#726. Join Kaitlyn Bristowe and Teddi Mellencamp as they delve into the depths of life; from Teddi's courageous battle with melanoma to her unique experiences as the daughter of a music legend, John Mellencamp, this conversation offers a poignant exploration of resilience and authenticity! Get ready for a candid discussion that goes beneath the surface, exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating fame, family, and personal growth. Whether sharing heartfelt insights on skin health or recounting amusing anecdotes from her upbringing, Teddi's honesty and humor shine through, leaving listeners feeling inspired and empowered. Tune in for an unforgettable journey through the layers of life as seen through the eyes of a "nepo baby" who's learned to embrace her true self, flaws and all. If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE! Episode Highlights: 3:35 Teddi recounts the pivotal moment during a run with Kyle Richards that led her to get checked for skin cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection. 30:38 Teddi discusses the transition from reality TV to other endeavors, touching on challenges, personal growth, and reflections on past experiences. 36:52: Teddi shares anecdotes about her famous father, John Mellencamp, offering a glimpse into the unique dynamics of growing up in a celebrity household. 44:50: The lighthearted game of "Two Truths and a Lie". Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out the deals below! REDFIN: Download the See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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atlanta madison de moyn kansas city columbia missouri tampa orlando nashville i'm coming to all you beautiful people these podcast tours are always a highlight of my year because there's just no other way to put it then it's just pretty damn fun i get to hang out with you in person it's just the energy is electric i've it's just insane like leaving those live podcasts i'm like whoa that felt like an empowerment session. I feel elevated. The vibrations don't get me started on how high those are. So check out my website, Caitlinbristow.com to buy tickets for those who join me, I can guarantee a little dancing, a lot of laughing, wine, lots of wine. Even if you're pregnant. I've had pregnant, sober people come to my show and say it was still fun. They bring their boyfriends,

their husbands, and I even see them smiling at the end of it. So let's toast to that. I'll see you on tour. Off the Vine. Hey, everybody, welcome to Off the Vine. I'm your host, Caitlin Bristow. Today, I have a really, real, honest, fun conversation with Teddy Melanchamp. She shares her journey of being diagnosed with her 13th melanoma, things that we should be looking out for and preventative ways to take care of our skin. We talk about having a famous dad, John Mellencamp, what that look like for her growing.

growing up in that kind of world, what she thinks about being nepo baby. And also, we play a little fun game of two truths and a lie, which I find out a very interesting thing about Teddy. Enjoy this episode. So first of all, good to see you. I feel like we, the last time we podcasted, I think was 2019. And that, I don't know about you, but I feel like everybody feels like there's a glitch in the Matrix where the last four years were just like, it was just one year, but somehow four. And it feels like yesterday was 2019. Well, that's exactly how I thought. I was like, oh, I just did her pod.

And then my post was like, no, that was four or five years. Like, that was a long time ago. A long time ago. And I know we spoke about your fitness accountability business and filming the Real Housewives and your marriage, which I loved that episode. I actually went back and listened to see what we talked about before. But I want to learn more about you personally today and dive a little deeper and have like more of a sensitive conversation about what you've been going through the last two years with

your skin cancer journey because you've been incredibly open on social media. You actually encouraged me to go get all of my molds checked and start like looking into that because I was one of those people that in my, you know, late teens and early 20s, I was laying in a suntan bed trying to get that playboy bunny tan line on my lower abs and I didn't know any better. We would put stickers on ourselves to see the outline of like the two bunny ears. Like, It was insanity. Well, and also our parents didn't know any better to not let us do that because they were the ones having tinfoil on their face trying to get like leather skin.

So it's like they didn't know any better either. And now we're starting to learn. So I love that you're open about it on social media because you were first diagnosed with stage two melanoma. And I think it was October 2022. But what like sparked your like what made you go get checked to take us back to that moment? So taking you kind of way back, when I was born, I had like a white birth mark on my shoulder that was like this, just like kind of a white circle that we never really thought.

We just assumed it was a birth mark. And then throughout the years, it got the more sun that I got, the frecklier it got. Like that all of a sudden, that area became like this freckle patch. And I was like, oh, whatever. This is, I mean, I guess I was overlooking. It's sun damage, but it's fine. You know, and then after I had my kids, my first. first two, the spots started to like get a little bit like rashy almost.

And so I went to a dermatologist back then and they were like, oh, it's dermatitis or something like along those lines. And they put on like a hydrochortisone cream on it and it would go away. And the spots would get big and small. And then that was kind of where we left it. Cut to, you know, right before I went in, I was on a run with Kyle Richards. And I had just a sports for on. Of course, I mean, why would I cover up my skin? And she's like, Teddy, the spots on your back, they look brutal. Like, something is a skew you need to go. I'm like, I'm fine. And she's like, no, from when you started filming Beverly Hills to now, there's a huge difference you're going. And I have severe anxiety surrounding like doctor's appointments and things like that, which is odd considering I've had a necklift. But things

that I can't control. Totally. I'm with you. I'm with you. So I was like, I'm not going. And she's like, actually, we're going right now. So we got back from the run. She texted her dermatologist.

And we went in. And immediately, they look at the area. There was one spot that seemed concerning to the doctor and to the dermatologist. And of course, she's like, do you want me just to do a little biopsy or do you want me to cut it out? And then we send in the whole thing. I'm like, just cut it out because I don't need to come back. In my mind, I was like, we'll just cut it out. We'll find out the information.

That one came back stage two, and essentially there wasn't clear margins. So then I started going back in. That's when I went to the oncologist. And throughout the next essentially 15 months, I kept being diagnosed with more. So I had over 13 melanomas. Wow. And they just, you know, the first one was the highest stage. And then each one of them, we just kept catching quick.

quicker and quicker and quicker, but it was multiple surgeries. Sometimes I would go under. Sometimes I would just be like, all right, I'll grin and bear it. Just give me the shots, and then we can take them out. And then finally, after the last time I went to get checked, the doctor was like, listen, your margins still aren't clear. There's still an issue. I did immunotherapy for six weeks, which made me feel terrible.

And I couldn't eat. I felt nauseous. I didn't feel like myself. my skin blistered like it was not the best experience and he was like I don't want to keep cutting you bit by bit so I'm going to do I'm going to bring in another surgeon and we're going to do it like originally he said a skin grafting but what they ended up doing is pulling my lower back they cut a huge hole in my skin about this big and then they pulled like excess skin that I had from my lower back up over my shoulder so that's why I have the thing that looks

like Zorro or whatever it is on my back. And then now I'm just in a holding pattern and I go back in about three weeks to get checked again. I mean, let's talk about those emotions because for somebody that has anxiety around doctor's appointments and things that are out of your control. And also, I feel like you're somebody that's such a go-getter. You're always busy. You're mom of four. Like you're always going, doing to be kind of taken out like that and have anxiety around it. How did you even deal with that? I would say I kind of went like. like this. Like there was like that point of denial that I'm actually fine. This is not a big deal to what am I going to do? I'm I could die to and then I became like I would make my husband have

conversations with me about if I die, I want to pick out the kind of person that you're going to marry after me because I don't want. Yeah, like he's like we're not talking about this. You're going to be fine. And I'm like, I know, but I don't trust your picker sometimes. So like, I'm like, I, we're going to have to talk about this. And I, like, texted my best friends about it. I'm like, listen, this is what I, this is my non-negotiables for Edwin's next wife. Like, I need to make sure that she's, I don't care if she's hotter than me. None of that I care about.

I want to make sure that she's funny and good with my kids and works hard and will show my kids a good work ethic. Everyone's like, Teddy. So selfless. I really, like, I was concerned. I was like, I don't want some girl to come in and be a disaster. to my family. That's where my head was. And then I got declined for life insurance. So if you don't have life insurance, get it now. Oh my gosh. You got declined? Why? Because I had skin cancer. So I tried to get it after the, yes, because clearly there's a chance that you're not going to make it. Oh my gosh. Wait,

that is such a good learning lesson for all of us listening right now. Get life insurance. Yeah, get life insurance. And like I didn't have a will. I didn't have life insurance. I didn't have, because I just was like that type of person, I'm going to be fine. I'm fine. You know, it doesn't, you know, life is good. I'm just going to keep on going. And then all of a sudden I was like, no, I have to figure these things out. Like, I need a will. I need this. I need that. And then life insurance turned me down. And I was like, wow. Okay, this is more serious than I thought. And then it was just the highs and lows of thinking that it was gone. And then it kept coming back that kind of just messed with my, my mental state a little bit.

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Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connix Ontario at 1866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. But MGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. you're a person that cares about you know wellness and health how do you prioritize your mental health when you're going through such serious emotions well i would say the worst it probably was there were two times that were really hard the first time it was i was actually at bravocon not this year but the year prior and i was told i was going to come back and have this little procedure done

and it was going to be done. And my husband, Edwin was being weird to me on the phone the whole time I was at BravoCon. And I was like, well, I see being weird. You know, I just can read people's energy.

Not in a creepy way, but like I could tell something was up. But he was just kind of being like a little standoffish. And so finally, the day I leave, the whole time it was in the back of my mind like, why is my husband mad at me? Like,

why are we fighting? Like, this seems so bananas. And as I'm like, okay, I'm at the airport. He's like, your doctor called me,

because he knew this was a big week for you, they're not going to be able to do the surgery because there's additional areas that came back as lighting up. So now you have to get your lymph nodes test and all these things. And he goes, I didn't want to, he called me because he knew you were, you know, you were working, but you're not having surgery when you get home tomorrow

because they have to do additional testing. And I was like, lost it. And I was just so upset because I thought something was going to happen that would fix it and it didn't. So that was really hard. And I still did this day. I'm like, I don't know, Edwin. I think you could have told me day one. Like, I think you probably could have probably could have handled it better than four days of additional stress thinking that we were like done for because you're such a bad liar. And then the

second time was, yeah, you know what I mean? Like you're like, I'm like, what did I do? I always think about that because my mom always tries to protect me from certain things and she won't tell me, but she'll treat me differently. And I'm like, I don't, I go back and forth where I'm like, I don't know if I'd want to know then when she should have told me or if I do appreciate that she waited because then it would have, you know, ruined my trip or something. But in this case, you're kind of like, I probably needed to know. Well, he also got really met. There was a thing that like went viral online. It was not me. It was another girl that was fighting with somebody. It wasn't even at BravoCon, but everybody said this is Teddy Mellencamp fighting with, I think it was Samantha

Bush or something like that. And it was like a blonde girl, like punch. punching another girl and Edwin called me and he was like, what the hell is wrong with you? Like, how can you do this right now? Like, why are you creating all this drama in your life? And I'm like, what are you talking about? That isn't me. It's a fake made up meme. And he was just, he couldn't even laugh about it.

And that's what I was like, what is going? Have you ever seen me get into a physical altercation? You think I'm going to do it now at Bravo? Like, please. But it was all just like this pent up nervous energy. he had. But I was like, babe, you should have just told me. But either way, that was kind of a rocky time for me. And then the next time was after this last surgery because I had my surgery the day after Christmas. So it was like I had to get everything organized with the family. And I don't think I realized how big the surgery was, even though they told me a thousand times that I would be out and I needed to take six weeks to rest. But I went through like a little bit of depression afterwards because I'm so used to being on the ago and I couldn't. For myself personally, I am also like I like to go and I like to do and I like to recharge my batteries but in a certain way where it's like on my watch. Like, okay, I'm going to take

Sunday to relax and watch TV and just like chill and eat McDonald's and whatever. But when I was really sick at the beginning of January and I couldn't get out of bed and I had a fever and I was doing all of this research into it because I was like, I feel really dark and really depressed and sickness actually mimics depression. So I can't even imagine going through what you're going through mentally, physically, with a family, with your career, everything you've got going on and having to be just like scared. And I think a lot of times me personally, speaking from my own experience, when I'm scared, I try and mimic it in other emotions where I'm like irritable. I'm angry. I'm depressed when really I'm just scared. And it's just like so hard to

to not just sit in that kind of depression because how could you not? And six weeks is such a long period of time for you to be out like that. And then and then now just being in a holding period. Like what do you do in the holding period? And is just, is this something that's a lifelong journey for you that you'll have to always be up on? I mean, I think I have to get checked every three months from here on out just to make sure because clearly my body has the ability to for it to spread in a quick way. But I think in regards to the emotional state, which is really what affects me more, is I also like when I get scared, I get a little like angry. Same. I'm just edgy. Like I can't take any sort of feedback. So I mean, imagine also going through this and running a health and

wellness company where you're breathing like positive energy and putting your best foot forward and all these things and it finally took one of my friends saying like because I was getting you know to be perfectly honest this whole ozympic thing has made it tougher on my business because people are like oh I'll just take a shot and I'm like to each his own you can take a shot but the second you stop taking it if you don't have a healthy lifestyle all the shot has done is going to wear off so you know Like my business was going through some changes. Somebody that works with me was like, and also one of my good friends, she was like, Teddy, you're going to need to show up.

And I said, I can't show up. I can't not show up right now. Like, I feel angry. I feel upset. It's all personal stuff, but I'm taking it out on my business. I would show up to the podcast and I'd be like, ugh, I feel like I was faking it. Like, everything didn't feel authentic. And then this is kind of bringing us to our next thing, which I know we were going to talk about

the word of the year. my word of the year I told everybody was was coping and everyone in my life's like that doesn't sound like you and I was like but that's where I am so take me or leave me and my husband's like you've never been like I'm just going to cope and I was like that I cannot specify to you more and it finally took people like pointing out some of the changes that I was making that had nothing to do with healing that was actually derailing my feeling better that I switched my word. Oh, okay. Because I was like, well, that wasn't the word I thought you were going to say. Yeah. So yeah, because coping just feels like something that's survival mode that you had to do to get

through. And it's so, I mean, it's so human of you to obviously feel dark and feel like you can't show up. Like there's, there's days where I suffer from hormonal depression where I can't show up. And so to be going through what you're going through, like of course you don't, you feel like you're faking it and even if you have a health and wellness brand like it's still honest for you to say that and that's part of you know a health and wellness journey in my opinion is to to go through like the ups and downs and just be honest about it but when how long did it take you to change your word from coping to the new one it took about another six weeks I would say I think I did a post the day it happened but the beginning of the year I sent an email I mean I sent a I'm on a group

text with all my coaches that are my company because my friend John Gordon taught me about the word of the year because I'm very against, like, toxic positivity, but I do believe that you can manifest what it is that you, what you want in life. And I've always, he has such, you guys, if you haven't read any of John Gordon's books, they are incredible and he's one of our dear friends and he coaches so many people through life, through business, through, you know, a lot of different sports athletes. I mean, even when I said the word to him, he didn't, he didn't come in and be like, no, you can't say cope. He was like, okay, all right, you know, like you're feeling your feelings,

blah, blah. I sent also to my coaches. I asked all of them what their word was. And then I said, I'm going to share mine. I'm probably in one of the darkest places I've been since I was in postpartum depression. And my word is cope. I hope it'll change. But right now, that's the only word I can think of. And then about six weeks later, I was like, I actually, you know what? I have a new mindset. I'm ready. And my word is strength. And I'm going to kick some ass this year. And I'm going to do things I've never done and I don't know what that is going to be but I have to give myself some hope to get my strength back. I love that because part of being strong is coping with certain things that you need to get through and certain emotions and letting those feelings come up and

coping is part of being strong. Like that's something that I've worked on for the last 10 years in therapy. I never was taught any coping skills growing up. And so that's actually something that I have worked on. And that's part of my strength now is the coping skills that I've developed. So I love that you change that word. And I do words of the year too. And I think it's just like something that a little reminder every day, just one word that can mean so much. And what's your word this year? I can't pronounce it. How funny is that? It's I always get it wrong. It's basically it's reciprocation, but it's reciprocity. Thank you. I can never say it. And every time I try, I'm just like, I'm just going to say. for separation. Because to me, I'm like, I want to surround myself with people who feel the same

way that I feel I want it to be in my business, in my relationships, in my friendships, in my friendships, in everything that I'm doing. I just want to like be on the same, I don't know, like vibration as other people. And so that was my word for the year. I mean, I have many other ones, but that was one where I was like, that's what I'm going to focus on. And I was, I was thinking about when you said, you know, you run this health, wellness brand. Have you incorporated like skin care and like kind of what you've been going through into part of taking care of your body? I haven't because I'm not like a licensed oncologist or dermatologist or anything like that. But when I was going through the darker stuff or when I was going through the information about

skin cancer, I have been very transparent on my social media. So like you can even go on to my Instagram like Teddy Melanchamp and you can go to like skin cancer or cure melanoma or whatever it is. And you can see all the different stages, things that I've learned, ways to incorporate because something that people repeatedly were asking me, like, they would send me pictures of their moles and then say, like, could this be skin? And I was like, listen, mine didn't even look like a mole. Right.

So it can show up in any different form, but all I can tell all of you is go get your skin checked, find products that work for you that you'll actually use. But for a long time, I didn't put on sunscreen because I didn't like. like the way it felt on my skin. Hmm. Like I'd be like, oh, I feel sticky. I'm like, I have textual issue, like all of it. And then I was like, this is so silly.

Find the product that you actually really love. So for my face, I love Elamus. So like that is, you know, or I like super good. But it really, I'm not saying you have to use one of those products, but it's like anything. It's like working out. It's like whatever. What works for you that you're actually going to use?

Because if you dread doing something, you're not going to do it. Right. And do you recommend like, I, so. I wear 50 sunscreen on my face every day. I try and be smart about my, you know, being out in the sun and skin and everything. But do you, like, even on a winter day, let's say, do you recommend like just sunscreen every day? Like, are there things people can do to prevent? And also when you were saying that, I'm like, from the beginning, when you said you had that white birthmark, I'm like, I have the same thing. And now I'm like, I'm going to send a baby and ask if I, and then I'm like, I'll be going to go to a doctor. But do you have like advice, I guess, for listeners to either what to pay attention to or things that they can do to prevent? Well, I think, I mean, something I never really did, but layering. Of course, you know, sunscreen is important, but even more so than that is like I'm, whenever I'm out, I'm in hats, I have, like, I'm going to go ride horses right after this.

So, like, I have this shirt. I have another shirt that goes over it. So I'm constantly where when I was younger, I would wear, like, those Abercrombie and Fitch like tank tops and, like, bake my, you know, so it's, it's keeping your skin cover. I remember when I was thinking I'd say, oh, I'm going to get that first burn and then it's going to peel off and that, you know, then I'm going to get the tan. Yep. So it's mainly that and also just getting your skin checked. Like, book that appointment.

Like there's got to be between that and getting, you know, your boobs check. Like all of those things. You have, those are yearly appointments. And if you're, if you're staying on that, then your doctor will tell you what you need to be doing. But not getting checked is not the answer. I've had to work on that where I'm kind of the same way as you was getting like nervous around doctor's appointments and like getting a mammogram. I just got one a few months ago.

And I was always just so like scared to find out anything else. I was kind of one of those like, what I don't know can't hurt me. And right. You just go and you're like the only regret anyone would ever have going is like, why didn't I do this earlier? And it's over with quick. And it's like just, it's to take care of yourself. And it just, I don't know.

it's a whole new perspective on health and self-care, you know, because we all think in doing our skincare routine, working out, but part of getting older and even just in life is taking things like your body and your health seriously and getting checked because you can catch things like this before they happen, you know? So it's... Yeah, it's just being proactive. And most of the time we don't do it because we don't want to fill out the paperwork to go get to like I know that's I'm like oh now I'm going to click through all this shit and at all of it

but it's it's one of those things like you just what you don't know can't hurt you until it really does I I love following you on social media for many reasons you're you're one of the real ones but I love that you are open about it and show photos that I'm sure it's therapeutic for you well maybe I'm not going to speak for you but therapeutic for you to share and either have people be like, wow, thank you for this. I went to get checked or I'm going to go get checked because of this or people that have maybe been through what you have and reach out, you know, and you find a little community and you've probably found so much strength through that.

Yeah, I mean, the support has been amazing. And I think, you know, with what I do like on my podcasts or what I did when I was on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or any of the things I've done in my past, I'm like, there has to be a reason that I was the one that this happened to. Like, one, it's because I am able to share. my journey and other people will get checked. I mean, thousands and thousands of messages. Wow, I never thought I needed to get checked. I'm going to go get checked. But also I'm like, this is my little piece of like all the shit that I've done wrong. This is my way to give back. And I don't know

if that's just like justification. But I'm like, it makes me feel better. Like I'm able to say, okay, go do this. And somebody will change the outcome of their life because of it. Yes. Oh my gosh. That's, I mean, it really is all about perspective, but it's, that's an interesting way to think, like, this is just my way of giving back now is having to go through this. I hate that you have to feel that way, but I hear what you're saying. And we were talking about strength and speaking of strength. I wanted to talk not too much about housewives because we chatted about that the last time, but you're no longer on the show. And I just wanted to ask what the transition was like from being on the show and doing that so often to then not being on the show. Were you sad? Do you miss it? Would you ever go back? I mean, I think originally, it was a lot that went on in 2020 because I was pregnant, did the reunion, had a baby, the baby, my baby dove had to have neurosurgery, then the pandemic happened. Like, it was so much that went on. I got fired and I felt there was like a grieving process. Totally. But I think the world was also grieving.

So I don't know how much of it I tied to watching my friend's film and me not versus me also just being. I don't know if jealous is the right word, but I wish I could go out and do those things right now. Where we're all, you know, because they were all taking their COVID test, going to do stuff. We're seeing little pictures. Why we're all in our homes, wearing gloves to go to the grocery store and washing our fruit with, like, sprays. Like, it was a really weird time in general. But also, I mean, if I'm being completely honest, there's a part of you that feels like you're not enough when you lose a job. When you're like, wow, I'm not good enough or I wasn't fun.

money enough or I wasn't rich enough or I wasn't strong enough or I wasn't you know drama enough like you find and then the social media will fill in the gaps anything that you think you you're okay at they'll tell you right away you're actually not yes that was I mean even just hosting two seasons of the bachelor bachelorette and then them calling and saying like you know we're going to go a different direction I was like okay somehow I blew it it was just like a terrible reaction And from audience, I probably made their ratings go down. I was probably terrible. People didn't like me.

And yeah, they filled in all the gaps for me on that. And I think that was something that actually really saved me during COVID was being able to go on dancing with the stars and have this everyday thing that kind of, you know, I didn't really. Accountability. Yeah. Yeah. It was. Accountability, which is obviously probably been one of your words in the past years. Yeah.

That really helped me. So I can't imagine not having something and then seeing all your friends do something that you've been a part of for so long. Yeah. And so, I mean, it was tough. But then, you know, right about a, I would probably say about a year after or maybe it was less. I can't even because time, as you know, it moves at like such a fast pace. And I never believe my parents, but it really did. Yes.

I heart reached out to me and I had had a health and wellness podcast because I wasn't allowed to talk about housewives when I was employed on housewives. So I was like, you know, I had that for a couple of years. And they called me right after it. And they were like, will you do a Housewife podcast where we recap the franchises? I'm like, one, I don't watch all the franchises. And two, no, I'm done. I was fired. I'm moving on, blah, blah, blah.

And they like gave me a couple months. And then they called back. And they're like, no, like, we really think you could make really good money doing this. There's, you know, we want you to do like a recap of every episode. We'll have multiple episodes a week. this is a big opportunity for you and for financially and also it's going to give you that that spark and it's going to help you with your ultimate goal which is being some sort of a host and I said fine but I'm only doing it if I can pick a co-host and I get to like I want a co-host I don't want to do it

by myself yeah and they were like okay who do you want and Tamara judge had just gotten fired too and I was like I want Tamara judge and they were like well she's not going to say yes and I was like the hell she what like I can be very convincing so I was like well let me call her first, and I called her, and she had that same little chip on her shoulder that I had about being fired and, like, all those things. And I was like, let's go and, like, crush this. Let's go and be our hot mess, express selves, and say all the things that we want to say and feel and not have to be a part of it. We're watching a television. We're getting paid to watch television. Yeah. And she was like, all right. And then we hit the ground running. And it was like, number one,

every single, it was like, pop, pop, pop. And we're like, okay. I saw it was it it does so well and it's so I I really wish that I watched housewives just so I could like come on and talk about it because I tried to get you to cover for her this week because she got a town and they're like she doesn't watch I wanted to lie so badly and be like yep I watch I'll be there and then I was like I can't do it I can't lie otherwise I would be there but I mean I just love it it's perfect you guys are so like funny on social media too and I wanted to know if you've always been a kind of unapologetic person. Like, is that always just, is that in your DNA?

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've always been that way. And that's why watching back when I was on Housewives was so hard because I wasn't myself 100%. Like I felt a different type of way that now that I have the podcast, I'm like, wow, if I were ever to be on another show or do something else or go back to that, whatever it may be, I'm back to feeling that confidence. that I once had like in something that I you know I've shared on on my podcast but not that much but when I started housewives my husband and I were not in a good place and I was definitely like just trying to get through and I think when you look back and think that you're like oh wow that makes sense because when you're just trying to put one foot in front of the other you're not your unapologetic self you're really just back to like let's figure this out day by day and so yeah I mean there's

definitely, I've always been that way. And I maybe lost myself for a little bit. But yeah, I mean, I was kind of raised to be this way. Well, I mean, you grew up with a very famous dad, obviously, John Mellencamp. I, okay, you've been quoted saying, is it Nepo baby? Is that what it is called? Nepo baby. And the implication is that because their parents had connections in an industry, the child is able to use those connections to build a career in that industry. Now, I don't want to speak for you, but you've said that having a celebrity parent kind of pushed yourself even harder to add another level and added another level of pressure that you put on yourself. So talk to me about that because I can totally see where I obviously did not have famous parents. What was that

pressure like? Was it, did you feel like you needed to make him proud? Was there a certain standard put on you? Like if you think I have an unapologetic personality, imagine me times like a hundred. that is my father and my mom is also like kind of like a free bird she says whatever she you know like both of them have the ability like the gift of like gab and just saying what's from the heart that being said I felt like everything was a non-negotiable so I had to show up and I had to show up in this way or else don't show up at all and if you're not giving 110% you're not giving enough and like there was always like I would and I would and I I don't even know necessarily if it was him doing that or that's just my personality type

where I'm, you know, because some of my siblings don't feel that way. So it's a combination. Yeah. But I think, you know, when it comes to Nebo baby, people are like, oh, this or that. I'm like, do, do, do that open doors for me that wouldn't have been opened? Yes. Do I think I had to work hard because of it? Yes, because I wanted to prove myself not only.

him but to anybody else right i've had to work my ass off i didn't you know everyone's like oh you came to l.A and you had all this money and i'm like no i didn't my parents were like you can have your car that you got when you turned 16 but like you can get it out there and move and like i lived in a studio apartment in bunk beds with my first roommate like it's you know i had two jobs but that's i mean that's just your work ethic at the end of the day too because i was talking about this with brandy cyrus she's like that's probably the biggest misconstitutional about me is that money's just handed to me. I'm just a Cyrus. I like don't have to work for it. And she's like, I've moved mountains to get to where I'm at in the, you know, this male dominated industry of

DJs. And like, you know, she's worked so hard. And that's kind of, I'm guessing a misconception that, you know, people in your world and those Nepo babies have had, which is so frustrating because it takes away the credibility from all the hard work that you do and who you are as a person. Because a lot of people wouldn't survive in L.A. in a studio apartment with bunk beds and getting to where you got in your life too, you know? And I wanted to know if there was any like unique opportunities or experiences or stories that you remember with kind of that comes with being part of a famous family. I mean, I remember, I mean, my most, I, I, my dad was on tour with Bob Dylan. And whenever my dad's on tour, my siblings and I or my husband or my kids or

whoever goes, we always sit on these speaker boxes on the side because we don't get tickets because it's what's the point? So we sit on the side. So I didn't know the order of go. And so like I just went and sat on the speakers that we sit on and all of a sudden I'm getting moved. And I'm like, what, what happened? And they're like, oh, Teddy, you got to come down. And I'm like, okay, so I come down.

And they're like, Bob Dylan's going on next. And I was like, oh. And they were like, yeah, when he's performing, he doesn't like to make eye contact. and you're at his eye level. No way. And that actually makes sense. It may like catch you off guard because normally you're looking down at everybody on state. And all of a sudden if you looked up and you were directly making eye contact with somebody,

it could be distracting. But I was like, and then it got more awkward than that because then we all do the introduction afterwards. I didn't know that he was a fist pumper. So he put his like handout to fist pump me to say hi. And I shook his like. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. And then I was like, I just looked at my dad and I was like, Dad, I've messed up all the things with Bob Dylan. I haven't done one cool thing with Bob Dylan. I'm most awkward human alive. Like, first I tried to make eye, force him to make eye contact with me. Then I shook his paw. Like, it's just getting worse and worse. wait that's so funny because anytime somebody does that to me and I do it I just they'll do

this and I'll go to shake and then I go oh gear shift and I'll go like I like pretend I'm like shit and I just make it more weird and then I just walk away yeah I mean so that happened also the year that I got in so much trouble for being late Madonna and Sean Penn were at my house so it's like those types of things you can't yes like you have to imagine like 30 30 13-year-old me sitting at the table and my dad's like, you're not having a birthday party tomorrow. You were two hours late. I told you to ride your bike home by this time, blah, blah, blah, and I'm sitting there with Madonna and Sean Penn. Like, oh my gosh, that is crazy. Have you written a book? No, I can't. No. I would read that in a second. I mean, I feel like you have

stories, like, just like from growing up and life on TV into like, I don't know, I just feel like your book would, if you ever want to keep overachieving. Maybe you can help me one day. I'll be your ghost writer. No, that would be really bad. That would be really bad. Wait, you were talking about making eye contact and it reminded me of, do you know who Dermit Kennedy is?

Yes. I went to one of his, well, I've been to like six of his concerts. I'm like a super fan. But I was row like two for one of his concerts. And I swear we made eye contact for like a solid 10 seconds. And I was like, you had eye sex? We had eye sex And I swear

And I was like Does he do this with like Other people And then my girlfriend after the concert She goes Did you see him making eye contact with me During that song And I was like

Was he looking at me or you And I like thought we had a moment But that's it's so funny Because I do feel like he was making eye contact So interesting So I think every performer must be different But I mean I don't know

I've never really performed on stage singing and so I wouldn't necessarily know and having to play an instrument and all the things. I don't know some things because I don't watch Real Housewives and I, but in my notes I had, and again, I know you're an open book, but you don't have to say anything, but your dad started dating your best friend.

Is he still with her? No, they're not still together. Oh, okay. I just read these notes and I was like, what? I didn't know that. Oh, he loves that I have, he's like, Teddy, can you shut up? Like, what are you always sharing everything? And I'm like, I didn't do it.

Listen, you know, but no, they're no longer together. But, yeah, that was, you know, there's so many pros and cons to so many different family dynamics. And, like, you know, having a celebrity dad is going to come with some weird experiences, I feel like. And that's just, you know, and I think that the interesting part is like, I've now become immune to it. It, like, doesn't even weird me out.

Like, if somebody is like, oh, your dad's hot or this or whatever, And the hard part about the Nepo baby term is like you're supposed to, one, you're supposed to show that you do it on your own, but then you don't want to shade your parent because you're actually proud that they are your parent because they've worked really hard themselves. So it's like puts you in this weird dynamic where I'm like, of course I'm proud of my dad. He has, you know, done all of these things. I don't want to ride his coat tails, but I also don't want to pretend he doesn't exist as a human being in my life. And he really is one of my best friends. And, If I need advice about anything, he's the one I call and vice versa. And, you know, including his dating life. I'm like, I can't. That's so, I mean, look, if I was going to call anyone for life advice, it would be someone who's lived life. You know, I feel like your dad's probably lived so many different lives

and gone through so many different experiences. So I love that he's one of your best friends. That's my dad's one of mine too. It's so sweet. Oh, I love that. So moving into our last thing, I've got, I wanted to play two truths in a lot. So I always love this game. When I listen to other podcasts, I love when they do stuff like this.

And so I want you to share two truths and one lie and I'll guess which one is the lie. And then you do the same for me, okay? Is this a PG podcast or can I say anything? You can, rated R is better. Okay. All right. I once put a popsicle in my vagina. One of my best selling items on LTK is a cock ring.

and I'm allergic to mango. Okay. I think you're allergic to mango and you put a popsicle up your vagina. Nope. Hold on. Hold on. You think I put a popsicle in my vagina? I mean, kids get curious at a certain age.

No, but one of the housewives did. That's why it became one. That's why it was one of my lies. I'm allergic to mangoes and my best-selling item on LTK as a cock ring. Is it really? I don't know if I've made the most money from it, but it's the most clicks and purchase.

But the item is only $8.99. They're disposable from Amazon. But every time I talk about it or post about it, it's like thousands and thousands are purchased. So you also should go to, this is actually a pretty funny story about the cock ring. I always talk about it because it will change your life. And I was talking about it, this like formal work event. And I was just like, oh, you know, these are the best. And one of the wives purchased it, but she had been drinking. And so then the next like two weeks later, she's like, oh my gosh, I just got home. from Christmas vacation and I opened this big box from Amazon and like a hundred clock rings popped out. And I was with my kids. That's incredible. She's like, I forgot we ordered them in the bathroom. I was like, no, we did. We did. That's funny because something similar like that just happened to me where I went to my old house that I'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff so I can sell it. And this guy was in there helping me go through stuff to either put in the trash bin or recycle or give to charity and I'm going through all this stuff and like a company must have sent me like these sex toys that I never opened and I opened one cupboard in my podcast room and it was all

sex toys and it was like this grown ass man and I was like cool cool uh you're like let's let's keep these this is definitely a keep uh oh my gosh he was like this old southern man too. It was so humiliating. Oh, maybe he didn't know. Maybe he didn't know. Oh, he knew. I made it obvious and weird. That's just like, you get awkward. I make it more awkward. It's like, that's my humor to make things more weird than they have to be. And so I was like, oh, yeah, these are dusty.

Oh, God. No, these are dusty. Gross. I'm really glad you brought that up because that reminded me of that story. It literally just happened yesterday. So it's a funny story. Okay, I'll give you mine. I attended a Hollywood party. and ended up hooking up with Leonardo DiCaprio. Okay.

I've never watched an episode of Sex in the City, and I once accidentally bumped into Ryan Reynolds at a hardware store. I think you've never watched Sex in the City. Okay. Am I right? Yeah. Ha! But wait, there's two.

You have to pick out the lie. Hold on. Oh, shit. Sorry, I got all excited that you made out with Leonardo DiCaprio. Damn it. You, dang it. You ran into Ryan Reynolds in the hardware store. I know.

Why just get me all excited? I know. I wish I've hooked up with Leonardo DiCaprio, but no, I have not. But, yeah, I was walking out of, I was, it was my 24th birthday or 23rd birthday. I had gotten locked out of my apartment because I partied so hard the night before and lost my keys. so I was in like my girlfriend's oversized pajamas walking down the street in Vancouver trying to go to like a store to get an outfit and I walked out and he was walking out of this hardware store and we like ran into each other and I was like oh sorry and then I looked up and I was like oh Ryan Reynolds and I said that out oh Ryan Reynolds and then I just kept walking did. Did you have eye sex though? Yeah we sure did 10 seconds just the tip of the eyes.

It still counts Oh God, I love it Oh my God, it's so good You're amazing I love talking to you I've missed you Next time I'm out in L.A I'm like I should just watch some of the episodes

So I can come hang out with you guys on the podcast Yes, just come Or we'll bring you on just as a guest to talk about anything At this point We can go off script I can hang I too am a fellow open book unapologetic lady over here.

So anytime. I love it. And congratulations on your tour. Thank you so much. Tell everybody where they can find your stuff. Yeah. You can find me on Instagram at Teddy Mellencamp or my business stuff is all in by teddy.com. And make sure that you're listening to two T's in a pod and popping off wherever you listen to

podcast. Amazing. Thank you. And thanks for sharing everything on social media and with us today. And I'll talk to you soon. I'm Caitlin Bristow. I'll see you next. You're next Tuesday.

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