Sex, Love, and What Else Matters - Toxic Friendships, "The Traitors", & Motherhood with Mercedes Javid (Part 1)

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

Episode 147: This week, Kristen is joined by Mercedes "MJ" Javid, star of Bravo's Shahs of Sunset, The Traitors Season 2, and Realtor at The Agency. Kristen dives into MJ’s experience of filming Sha...hs shortly after the birth of her son, Shams. MJ shares what it was like juggling motherhood and filming, offering Kristen some valuable tips on what to expect as a new mom. The conversation also takes a trip down memory lane as they reflect on how different the Los Angeles nightlife was back in the day. As they reminisce, they discuss how they'd approach their time on reality TV differently now, touching on toxic friendships from the past, self-worth, and building confidence. Kristen gets real about moments when she felt inferior to some of her Vanderpump Rules co-stars. They also chat about this season of The Traitors, and so much more! Tune in now!   Sponsors: Laundry Sauce: Our listeners get 20% off your entire order when you use code DOUTE at laundrysauce.com.   Magnetic Me: Go to MagneticMe.com today – new customers will get 15% off their first order!   Marley Spoon: Head to MarleySpoon.com/OFFER/DOUTE and use code DOUTE for up to 27 FREE meals!   Bilt: Start earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to joinbilt.com/DOUTE.   Follow us: @kristendoute @luke__broderick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:02:14 Visa Card, paying your bills could sound like this. Yes! Earn rewards for paying your bill in full and on time each month. Rise to rewards with What's up, gorgeous humans? Welcome back to another episode of Balancing Act. I am stoked. I am having my girl MJ on this week. You know her, you love her from her podcasts, Shaw's, Traders and more. And oh my god, did we talk for a while. We had a lot of catching up to do. So we're splitting it up into part one and part two. We talked about pregnancy,
Starting point is 00:03:02 filming with a newborn, traitors, and more. I cannot wait for you guys to hear, so enjoy. Mommyhood, I have so many questions about mom stuff. Yeah, like what? I mean, honestly, I mean, I have a million just normal mom questions, but my biggest question is, was he what, like a month, two months old when you filmed with him?
Starting point is 00:03:26 Earlier. He was like brand, brand new? I gave birth and they started filming all at the same weekend. Oh my God. I don't know how to explain where my mindset was because obviously I was thinking about my baby before television. Yeah. Like, did you not want to film? Were you like, fuck this, I can't do it, I'm tired, this is brand new. Or were you just like, I don't even care, don't bother me and you can have cameras up kind of a thing. I was really like, oblivious and indifferent. It was almost like offering me like a camera during the birth of my son was like offering food to someone that just puked.
Starting point is 00:04:13 Yeah, that makes perfect sense. That was just my, I was really indifferent. Yeah. It's unexplainable. Then we like got to this point where what was happening, unfortunately, were like all of these vicious things were flying around. And it was like, Oh, like, it, so I don't want that. Yeah. No. The real people will be where they need to be.
Starting point is 00:04:40 And then I know exactly how you're going to feel. You're going to be just fine. It was more circumstantial for us. When you have your baby, you're not gonna have any drama. Your friends are on and off the show, are gonna be around you. Yeah, I'm not worried about, like, drama and stuff. I'm not even worried about that.
Starting point is 00:05:00 Like, I'm just like... Yeah. So, like, you cannot enter... Like, if this would be first trimester, I would be like, so like you cannot enter, like if this would be first trimester, I would be like bat shit crazy. But I'm just like, you guys, nothing, none of any of you say matters. Like you're so small right now. And so, ugh, I'm bored with you. Like I'm exhausted, ew. Like that's really how I feel. And I think that I'll feel that same way. I'm more like, Like, that's really how I feel. And I think that I'll feel that same way.
Starting point is 00:05:23 I'm more like, it's such a vulnerable, like, I know everything we do is vulnerable, right, on camera, but like being like fresh out of like popping a baby out of my vagina or my stomach, whatever, you know, whichever way we go. Whatever comes down. Whatever, however she gets out of me, just the vulnerability of being like, I think I'm assuming
Starting point is 00:05:48 the baby will be about eight weeks old when we start filming again. And that's more of like, oh my God, that's like vulnerable in the way of just like, I have literally no guard. I have literally no shield to put up because I, this is all my energy is to her, you know? Yeah. So that's where I'm like, oh, God, that's going to be wild. I would be like, if they're like, you know, hey, talk about this or talk about that. I'm like, what the fuck? Yeah, you get like a bigger dick because the best perspective is that when you have your
Starting point is 00:06:23 baby, everything else in the world does become small and meaningless. So if anybody does try to come at you with low level, low vibrational bullshit, you're going to be like, oh, sorry for you. You are such a loser. And I'm sorry that you don't have any perspective that this still appeals to you. So it is the best thing, you know, because you know how like you would have a really bad day and then you had your dog and your one look at your dog and you would just everything else would melt away? Because our dogs obviously save us and yes, we don't have them.
Starting point is 00:07:02 Yes. And you look at their sweet faces and they are better than any Xanax or any... One million percent. Think of. Yeah. And their whole world revolves around us. Yeah. It's similar. It really is. Yeah. And then like the other good thing, I mean, I heard that you're giving birth around the same time as
Starting point is 00:07:18 your castmate, the nice one, the sweet one. Nia, yeah, we're a week apart to the day and we actually, so my doctor as of right now because of my age, he wants me to go about a week early. If it doesn't happen naturally, the whole like my placenta won't support itself, blah blah blah, and I'm like, hey, earlier the better, let's do this damn thing. But Nia and I joke like we could be in the hospital at the exact same time. Yeah, that's really cute. And then it's her like fourth. Fourth, yeah. She has a three-year-old, one-year-old twins. Her one-year-olds are only twins?
Starting point is 00:07:51 I mean, her twins are only one? Yeah, they'll be... They turn two right after she's due to give birth. So then she'll have newborn, two two-year-olds, and a three-year-old. Did they move out of their apartment or they... Yeah, so they own a condo. That's like where they always film and they are buying a house like further away, like a bigger house. You know, if anything, it's really nice out here.
Starting point is 00:08:16 Talk about drama. There's no drama. Like, and I'm talking about like, you don't need a ticket for a parking meter. You don't need to like grab a ticket to go in a structure. You already know because you live in like more congested Valley, but I live in like our suburban Valley. You live in like the city Valley. It's still like the real. Yeah, it's still yeah, it is. It's definitely too congested for Luke's liking. Like he doesn't know anything else. So I it's hard to explain to for Luke's liking. Like he doesn't know anything else.
Starting point is 00:08:45 So I, it's hard to explain to him, like not all of LA is like where we live because we're in the city. I'm team Luke. Let's fucking go. Let's come out here. Let it be a place where you can like, we still have crime, like we don't have crime.
Starting point is 00:09:00 I don't even know the last time I've thought of parking meter like unless I've gone to Beverly Hills or whatever. By the way, the other day I went out with Sheena and Nima. Okay, and I Obviously had to go into weho in order to meet him. That's where he's staying and this is what happened I'm like, okay, we're like just up the street from sir of all places So I'm cruising at looking for a parking space. And there was actually someone that was like loading their stroller. And you know how that takes like a while to like get your stroller collapsed and everything. And then I mean, I don't know yet, but I know. Yeah. You know, when you're at the mall, and if you're like, if you're at the Grove and
Starting point is 00:09:40 you see somebody that still has to like unload a st stroller. Oh yeah, I'm like moving on. Exactly. So this guy decides to like slam up and then rrr and then curve and then like rolls and then go to the next part and then give him the finger and then wanted to do this. And I was like, Ooh, you are like just to go from Point Santa Monica and Robertson to Robertson and Melrose. I was like, good for you, brother. Never see that anymore. And he was so invested in that.
Starting point is 00:10:16 Like I was like, and then like two parts after that, did the same thing. I was like, nobody has any class, no manners. In here, you would know it's unheard of. No, I am terrified when I go over the hill. I'm like, I don't like this traffic. I can't find parking. I'm going to have a meltdown and I'm just going to drive home. I'm just going to go home.
Starting point is 00:10:35 I like it better over here. Yes, totally. 100%. Fucking losers. Yeah. I can't fucking imagine like trying to have a family over there. Oh my God. Or just dogs. I don't even know how I did it. I was young. I family over there. Oh my God. Or just dogs.
Starting point is 00:10:45 Like, I don't even know how I did it. I was young. I lived over there because I was young. It's true. Like when we were there, I guess it was like pre-pandemic, might have had a lot to do with it. Now everyone just seems dirty and I don't care who hears and gets offended. Yes, feels.
Starting point is 00:10:59 Anyway, you know what you should just know? What? Tell me. You're just delirious, Sleep deprived. Delirious. Like, luckily, Luke looks like he will help so much with being, you know, you know, he's going to like rough it with you. Oh, he's he literally says it all the time. He's like, I know we're not going to sleep.
Starting point is 00:11:19 And that's fine. His brother, his younger brother just had a baby in less than a month ago. So they're brand new. And so he's like, oh, Ethan tells me, like, just, dude, just get used to, like, maybe two hours of sleep if you're lucky. He's like, so I'm super, super prepared for that. I was like, all right, bro. Yeah. And I know that there is like this high that you get from life on baby one.
Starting point is 00:11:42 So all of the things. Fine. Yeah, he comes up to me right now and he asked me for a kickback because he knows I'm not going to argue with him. So smart boy. The adrenaline that we're running on. It's like the first time you had like, SES. It's like the first one night stand. It's like the first one night stand. It's like the first Coachella. It's like the first night you've crammed for a college essay. Like all of those firsts that we have in life that we kind of don't dread it because we're going through it all for the first time.
Starting point is 00:12:18 And so there is like this fire that keeps you going for a year. Yeah. I mean, I feel that way even during pregnancy. Not up until like the last month, I would say. Like at 18 to 20 weeks, I stopped being so fucking miserable and started like just feeling fine. Like, okay, again, like not super emotional and cranky and just hormonal and like wild and anxious.
Starting point is 00:12:43 And I feel good now. And now I feel like I know that I make myself think I have more energy than I really do. Like mentally I'm like, I can do all the shit that I always did. I can handle like a million projects. And then I'm like, no, I fucking can't physically, but like mentally I'm still there.
Starting point is 00:13:00 So that fire, that adrenaline. And then I'm like, actually I want to go to bed because the sun went down. Oh yeah. Yeah. Which I'm sure you're probably still at with a young one. I Don't okay. I am NOT a FOMO mom. I'm a Joe mom. I'm like I definitely Think I'm one of the most addicted to the time with my kid like Never get tired of it. I never feel like mama needs a break. I never feel like I just really this is, I'm more like, bitch, get out the house, go do
Starting point is 00:13:32 stuff with other you know, like, yeah, put some clothes on, get those Spanx up there, you know, but you know, put your high heels on like all of the sensible decisions. That is my dad through and through right here. It's like reincarnated. I am just there. And hey, you know what? That is also a product of like not having them too early when you still have wild oats to sell.
Starting point is 00:13:56 Right. Point. Great. Yeah, we've been there, done that. Yeah, I don't feel I'm missing. I've missed out on anything. It's crazy. I think for some reason, as of late, I've been thinking about like, oh, Luke doesn't even know what LA was like back when I used to do LA.
Starting point is 00:14:13 And then I started thinking about doing LA and I was like, oh my God, how did we go out? So it was like, the day was planned around what the night was going to be. Or the evening was planned or the night was planned around like what the late night was going to be. And I'm like, how the fuck did I do that? Like I run errands and I'm tired. Yeah. Everything was to have the sustainability for the night.
Starting point is 00:14:39 And the night like started, I remember we were like putting makeup on at 1030, 1130. Like there were like four girls that were, my house is a hub, and we were always lagging. I was the one that was down to just not even go, but we would go and we'd be happy if we got before last call and then we'd go to wherever the fuck berries or wherever people would go. And then, you know, wherever the after party was.
Starting point is 00:15:03 Did and never was a fan of watching the sunrise. I don't like that vibe. That's too cracky for me. Yeah, I totally did that shit. But I know what you mean. But now, literally now, to the point where like, Brittany will text me, yep, this happened the other day. And she was like, hey, like, we really want to do dinner for your birthday, even if it's
Starting point is 00:15:22 just like me and you or me, you and Zach or whatever, you know, if you don't want to make a big deal. So I made a reservation, it's 5.32 late. And I was like, Brittany, come on. Fair enough. But like, I can hang, I can hang for like a seven o'clock dinner, but that's, that's my cutoff. That's good.
Starting point is 00:15:43 I agree. I really like that. It's good. I agree. I really like that. It's like, yeah, we can watch the sun, you know, kind of set and then we'll be home by the time it sets. Like it's like morning people. And you know what? He's never going to know.
Starting point is 00:15:58 Like, he's never going to be able to experience LA again, because LA is not even the same that it was. What we lived does not exist and it probably never will. Probably never. Yeah, I agree. Luke, you just missed out. Everyone else, they just missed out. Although, you know, this year's Coachella, like you're one of the few people that I know that appreciates Coachella. But I haven't gone in a really long time. And the ones if I have are so not memorable,
Starting point is 00:16:26 they're so unmemorable, they were so bad. It was such poser, like everything about it was... It's not the same. It's just not like it used to be. Maybe this year's lineup will change things up. Maybe. Okay, so can we talk about something for a second? Laundry. Ugh. Am I right? It's usually one of those things I just try to get over with as quickly as possible or make Luke do. But then I found
Starting point is 00:16:52 laundry sauce. And now I'm like, wait, I actually look forward to doing laundry. What a wild transformation. Okay, seriously, though, laundry sauce is everything. These laundry pods aren't just about getting your clothes clean It's like their whole vibe first off. They smell amazing I mean I used to just grab whatever detergent was on sale But now I am obsessed with how my laundry smells my personal favorite the Australian sandalwood It is so rich warm like a luxury spa for your clothes But the Egyptian Rose is also so good if you want something more
Starting point is 00:17:25 elegant. I honestly did not think doing laundry could be fun, but with these scents I actually find myself enjoying it. I swear, folding clothes, it's like a self-care moment now. And not only does laundry sauce smell incredible, but it's super concentrated so you get more cleaning power with less detergent, no harsh chemicals, just clean, fresh, soft clothes. It's like I'm pampering myself with every load. And get this chemicals, just clean, fresh, soft clothes. It's like I'm pampering myself with every load. And get this, they just launched a new scent, Oregon Mint, and I am dying to try it. It's fresh, clean, totally uplifting. Plus, it's ethically sourced from one of the biggest mint farms on earth. Talk about a win for the planet and for your laundry.
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Starting point is 00:18:37 And one of the best things I have discovered is Magnetic Me. So I started looking for baby clothes that are as cute as they are functional and I heard about this brand. I am obsessed. First off, the fabric is so soft and everything has these amazing magnetic closures, like no more messing with zippers or snaps,
Starting point is 00:18:56 which we all know can be such a pain in the middle of the night during those diaper changes. The magnetic closures literally make dressing so quick and so easy. It is a total game changer for me. Honestly, we're going to need every minute of sleep we can get once the baby arrives. And with Magnetic Me, those midnight changes, a breeze, I can squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep before my little one starts their next adventure.
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Starting point is 00:19:53 for them to come out, super secure and quiet. We can't wait to dress our baby in Magnetic Me, and trust me, you need to get these for your baby too. So go to magneticme.com today. New customers will get 15% off their first order. Do not wait. Go to magneticme.com now. Social media changed a lot of things too, like Instagram.
Starting point is 00:20:17 When Instagram got really big, I don't know what year that was. I know, I think I started mine in like 2013. 2013, 2014 is when I like first got it. I remember being like, oh, if I could have 20,000 followers, I can get verified and then I'll be something. But it wasn't what it is now. So like I still brought like my real camera to Coachella. Like my little Canon like click digital camera. Point and shoot.
Starting point is 00:20:44 Point and shoot as Point and shoot. Point and shoot, as the kids say. Those cameras still take really good pictures. I know people that still like that really love photography and like having really good photos and they actually still keep like a little click in their back pocket. Also like makeup artists are like really good about that. And they get like sickest photos ever.
Starting point is 00:21:03 Okay, but so just to, I truly like for my own brain, I sort of wrap up. So having Shams on the show was not a thought. Cause okay, I'm asking because I've been asked so many times, like, how do you, are you fine with like having your newborn on TV? And to me, I'm like, yeah. Like, what is she gonna remember about it?
Starting point is 00:21:22 Like she's brand new. She's not gonna have like a core memory of being like eight weeks old and having a camera around our house. Like, this is part of my life. This is what we do. It's my journey. I want, of course, like, and they're not going to disrupt, like, her nap time or something. No, it's totally seamless. So that's why I'm like, am I crazy for just being so relaxed about it?
Starting point is 00:21:44 I don't think it's a big deal. We're exactly the same. It is no big deal. It's not important. It's the last of your ways. You're going to be worried about so many other things like looking good, feeling good, and performing the way that you were used to feeling in your body. And it's going to be way more about Kristen than catching
Starting point is 00:22:04 a glimpse of beautiful baby. We're so used to it. We both came on TV at the same time. And I don't understand why people ask, are you gonna have your baby on TV? Like all babies look exactly the same. They're just like a little newborn baby. It's totally true.
Starting point is 00:22:21 I can say that. Like what, if I showed you like 10 babies, would you really be able to tell which one is which? I mean, new newborns. I mean, more not likely than likely. Touche. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:22:36 No, it's totally true. So then see, I have nothing to worry about. I have so many things. I have so many things. Do we want to talk about mom shit? I want to talk about your podcast. I want to talk about. I have so many things. I have so many things. Do we want to talk about mom shit? I want to talk about your podcast. I want to talk about fucking traitors. Okay, let's go.
Starting point is 00:22:51 Are you watching this season of Traitors? Yeah, I am like obsessing over the season. I didn't watch season one. I watched part of your season because you and my friend Dan were on it. Dan Kiesling. Oh cool. Yeah. Very cool. We're friends since we were in middle it. Dan Kiesling. Oh, cool. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:23:05 Very cool. We're friends since we were in middle school. That's how long I've known him. Are you from the same hometown? Dearborn, Michigan, yeah. Oh my god. Why did you ever leave? I guess you had to so that you could do this.
Starting point is 00:23:20 Yeah. Not a lot of opportunity over in good old Dearborn, Michigan, but very cool place. But doesn't he stream for a living? Yeah, all the Twitch, gamey, all that stuff, I don't really understand. Super fucking smart, though. People watch him play. Oh, yeah, it's weird as shit.
Starting point is 00:23:37 I don't know how to wrap my head around that world. Yeah, so that's pretty fucked up, dude. You didn't even watch, even though... I didn't, I did not though... I didn't understand. I didn't understand what the show was about. I didn't... I wasn't interested. I'm not like a... Well, up until more recently, up until the last year,
Starting point is 00:23:56 I was not a survivor watcher, a big brother watcher. I'm not a gamey girl. I'm like, I watch The Voice and like, so you think you can dance and like shit like that. But now I actually understand Traders because I had also thought, I was like, I don't know. I saw that House of Villains show and I thought it was the same thing
Starting point is 00:24:18 and it couldn't be further from what that show is. So now that I understand it, I'm like, oh fuck, now I need to go back. And now I'm ready to watch season two, like, and truly pay attention. All right, so now you feel like you're ready to watch. You didn't understand the show. I thought it was like, who's mean to each other.
Starting point is 00:24:36 You're a traitor, so you're like, oh, let's get the villains and we're going to make a more villainous show. I didn't realize, like, all the strategy that was involved. And once I started watching this season with my best friend, Zach, he like forced me to watch it and I started really liking it. Then he explained to me like Reza season that like, that was a mix of like, I hate saying this, regular people and reality people, which no offense,
Starting point is 00:25:02 but like, I don't want to watch the mix of that. That's true. For me personally, I just think it's such an odd thing to try to mix up. But then I'm like, well, I'm like, that's weird because MJ's season, it was all, he goes, well, yeah, that was only season two. And they were like, that didn't work. Let's do this. So now I'm like, oh, this is going to be really good now that I'm invested. Well, it was like such a sick cast because we had the heavyweight champion of the world.
Starting point is 00:25:31 Then we had Max dancing with the stars and we had, you know, like the gamers. I hadn't watched Survivor or Big Brother. What was the last one? It was the challenge. Yes. I'm so glad I became friends with bananas. And you know, like the really like poverty. There's like so many legends like I became close with she's on dealer No Deal Island, which I am now watching. Oh my god, I had the best run
Starting point is 00:25:57 in because of traitors with the guy from dealer No Deal Joe Man Manganiello. Yeah, he has to be like twice your size. Yeah, oh yeah. You're so tiny and he's like six, five or something. And I was like, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool, be cool. He's looking at me, he's looking at me, oh my God, oh my God, he's looking at me. He was like only looking at me
Starting point is 00:26:20 because he just watched the ending of my season. So he had watched it with Boston Robb. The two of them were like on the phone watching the ending. And then he was like, so what were you thinking? And I was like, me? And he was like, yeah, at the end, like, what'd you think? Like, what were you thinking? And I was like, oh, well, I wanted to smash their faces in.
Starting point is 00:26:46 And he's like, yeah. It was like, yeah, me and Boston Rob were watching it and da, da, da, da. And I was like, the whole thing, my life, is only worth it up to this point where I get to just have five seconds with Joe Manganiello in the green room after he just presented us with the award before the Emmy that we eventually the show got.
Starting point is 00:27:06 Yeah, he was like, yeah, just so down-to-earth, obviously cool and and invested and so the best thing about traitors is how invested people are to come up and passionately tell you like Like what they saw like very much like VPR right like the value like Someone wants to tell you how they felt that they were personally wronged personally moved personally offended inspired anything that you've been through with your books and you're not you like you're you're actually so much more accomplished than like you get credit for it Because I feel like you don't really get... Your list and your CV of things that you've accomplished, your brand is very relatable. You are outspoken.
Starting point is 00:27:55 You've stood up for yourself. You've done the unpopular thing. You've been strong through a lot of things. You weren't litigious when you could have been. I mean, I have to say, this is like not to start shit with you on Stassi at all whatsoever. I'm just genuinely from the bottom of my heart.
Starting point is 00:28:13 When I see the amount of times that like clips go viral, TikTok, VPR clips go viral, and I see her like push or shove or throw something at you. Yeah. You know, like you obviously could have hit back. You could have like hurt someone back and you don't, you didn't have that reaction to like, you could also smash them in the face. You could have also done things back to them.
Starting point is 00:28:42 And you chose to like keep yourself cool. And I'm like, I just wonder about that. Like sometimes it like lives in my mind. It is really weird like looking back on it now, like being on the Valley and obviously being older and like having actual wonderful friendships and being so choosy about my friendships and not just being friends with people
Starting point is 00:29:04 because we used to be and they're on the cast and like now we're not friends anymore. Not just kind of going along, like going with the grain of it all. It is weird to look back because I think about my friendships with Katie and Stassi and how toxic they were at certain points and obviously they felt the same way individually. I'll just speak individually and together. I mean, it was all on the show, but I'm like, fuck. Why would I, and not just to single them out. I mean, Sheena, like other people too, just like when we were on that show in my 20s and 30s,
Starting point is 00:29:36 I'm like, why the fuck would I let people get away with treating me like that or talking to me like that or making me feel so less than? And honestly, for me, like in my whole mental health journey, and like, I just feel like it's because I did not think highly of myself. I wouldn't have done half the shit I did or stayed in the relationships or the friendships if I had a higher opinion of myself at the time. Like not ego, but like truly if I had like self-confidence and self-esteem,
Starting point is 00:30:05 I probably wouldn't have done some of the things that I did, but I also wouldn't have put up with the shit that I did. And I think that's like the big difference. And maybe it was that fucking break. I wish the break hadn't happened the way that it did back in 2020. Not talking about COVID, but it maybe it was, you know, that break that I really did need to get the fuck away from that show, because it was kind of like a bad breakup.
Starting point is 00:30:28 Like, I don't know if I would have ever left Vanderpump Rules if they didn't get rid of me. I don't think I ever would have quit waitressing at Sur if I didn't get fucking fired. Like, could you imagine, like, five, six, seven more years of that bullshit? That would have sucked. It was like these toxic environments that I stayed in
Starting point is 00:30:47 because I didn't think highly enough of myself. And the valley I don't feel is that, for me personally. I mean, that makes me feel, Matt, like sad and proud of you at the same time because- Same. Right? For real, I'm laughing, but like seriously, I'm like, God, that is sad.
Starting point is 00:31:03 Well, no, I mean, no, it's a huge place to move into. And like when I saw that, and I've taken, I've accepted my fair share of bullshit from people. And it's really like, but I, mine wasn't out of my self worth. It was more out of like, a shock of someone else's choices. Like how could someone do that to you? Like where you just couldn't react right away kind of a thing? Yeah. Yeah. Like you're not used to getting treated that way
Starting point is 00:31:36 because you have self-respect. Yeah. If there's anything I have going for me, it is self-confidence and a strong dad that helped me know my worth, but the Achilles heel to that or the downfall of that is that I also didn't really, like we're not very reactive, my dad and I.
Starting point is 00:31:57 And so maybe it would be great if I was a lot more reactive and then I could have gotten a lot of it out and I would rather just like meet it evenly halfway up there and instead I'm kind of more like, ooh, sorry, that's just not us. From a reality viewer standpoint, you don't look bat shit crazy. There's part of the payoff for the television of it all is like, I think reactivity is not healthy. I'm not proud of any of my, I'm proud for always standing up for myself,
Starting point is 00:32:29 but like when I look back on things or think back on my time on Vanderpump Rules, like my biggest issue with myself is that it was all reaction. It was like, I interrupted people constantly. It was like no one in my opinion, in my own head, no one listened to me, but hear me louder. And it was like, no, you're just not fucking listening,
Starting point is 00:32:50 Kristin, also, because you're not, you know what I mean? Like I thought I had to be the only voice, therefore I never listened. I victimized myself a lot to my own detriment. And so that was my reactivity. Okay, babes, real talk. Meal planning used to be my downfall, for real. Every year I'd say I'd get better at it
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Starting point is 00:38:50 I've got this condition where I don't feel pain. You're a superhero. No. If this is how intense Nova Kane sounds. Oh, wow. Imagine how it looks. Is it a morn? Yeah, big time.
Starting point is 00:39:02 Nova Kane. Pulling theaters March 14th. and how it looks. Is there more? Yeah, big time. Nova K. Pulling theaters, March 14th. The upside of that is that you're also in this cadence of the momentum.
Starting point is 00:39:11 So instead of letting the momentum fall and die, you're reacting in the moment, you're seizing the moment. So like, I respect that because you've got to pay a price no matter what you do. If I have to watch that and be like, shoulda, coulda, woulda, and I know I wasn't going to, but if I have that, then I have to kind of hold on to that. And like, you know, like Tommy started watching Shaw's, the seasons that he wasn't in, because
Starting point is 00:39:36 he was in the second half of the series. He was not in the first half of the series. And he sees the things that I, he was like, I don't like the way that you treated Gigi because when Reza and you fell out she was there for you and then when Reza decided to like he basically Tommy does not like the behavior that he saw me in the seasons that he wasn't in and he was like who was that person and I'm like I don't know I'm like just we were who we and he was like, who was that person? And I'm like, I don't know. I'm like, just we were who we were. He's like, well, no, you just weren't like that. And now if I were ever on TV again in that situation, I would not be the old MJ.
Starting point is 00:40:19 WHITNEY LEMONDREA Oh, for sure. I mean, because you're not the same person that you were. Like, you've had so much life since then. So much big life has happened to you and with, through you and with you since then. Like how could you be the same fucking person? You know? Like your perspectives have totally changed. Okay, so back then I didn't have a big brother to come down.
Starting point is 00:40:43 Like you know, like you come home and you sit on the couch and you've got a bunch of dudes that are around you that are going to be like, especially someone like Tommy, that's going to be like, what? You did what? Or you have a son or daughter at home that's going to see that one day. Now I would be reacting for them. I would be showing up for... So you know what? it does kind of come down to self-worth because you're like, I might not do it for me, but I will do it for my kid. Oh, yeah. Because that is the difference. Like back then, I was more like, how could you say that about me? Like, poor me or like, why are you spreading rumors about me or saying bad things
Starting point is 00:41:20 about me? And now it's like, oh, God God, I could give like literally zero fucks. Like because if you are wasting your breath, you don't know me and you are so beneath me. Like I think during Vanderpump, I felt very inferior to a lot of people, even when it didn't seem like I did. I think internally, I really did. And now, I mean, like it or not,
Starting point is 00:41:44 I feel superior to some people. And not because I've been on TV longer, or because it's like, oh, it's my show, I was one of the OGs. Because if you're being an asshole, I am better than you. That's that. Like, if you're being unnecessarily cruel, if you're being fucking try-hard, if you're trying to like, dominate the scene, quote unquote, or like, being different than who I know that you are in real life,
Starting point is 00:42:10 quote unquote, like you're being someone else on TV or someone else I have to film with, I'm so much fucking better than you. Like, that's just that. And that's how I feel. But it's not in a way of like ego, it's like self-worth. And importance, like what you were saying. It's like my family, my fian fiance now, my unborn child, like these things are so massive to me.
Starting point is 00:42:29 You're such small fucking potatoes. Yeah. And I'll probably stick up for myself in a way better way than, it's interesting. So when you're on the Valley now, doesn't it feel so much more civilized than VPR? I wouldn't use the word civilized. I mean, I still feel you realize Jax is on our show. I forgot. I literally forgot. No, I actually forgot because he's been out of my radar. Yeah. Like, let me wrap my head around this.
Starting point is 00:43:08 So when I asked you the question, doesn't the Valley seem so much more civilized? I was thinking about Nia and Jasmine. What's Jessie Lollie's girl. Michelle. Michelle. Yeah, I'm thinking Nia, Michelle, you and Brittany and Janet. Are there any other girls that I just that I from season one? Jasmine. Oh, yeah, of course. She's not cast though, right? She is now. They should have been season one, but yeah, they are now. She and Zach. Oh, okay, okay, okay. So, yeah, she's very civilized too. Like, I haven't really seen anyone, like, it just also, it's like supposed to be, we're calm now.
Starting point is 00:43:57 We're in the valley. We're not in the fray. Right. There was no actual, like, table flipping or, like like punches thrown. But there was, you know, I mean, season one, there was like a lot of close, almost that. So yeah, I wouldn't use the word totally civilized. The boys especially. Mostly Jacks. The guys made the show really good.
Starting point is 00:44:22 There was like a scene that the bros were growing. And I mean, okay, wait a minute. What Jax did to Luke was fucked. That was the beginning of the first half of the season. What Jax did to Luke was like the hook of the whole series. Yeah, that's wild to think back on that being like, you guys are so dumb. Like you're trying to, you just want to have a baby to be like everyone else. Luke, are you even ready for this? And it's like, dude, we're so ready.
Starting point is 00:44:52 We paid a fertility doctor lots of money to make this happen. You dick. Yeah. Well, isn't it fun to just watch him be such a hypocrite because that's what he was doing. He was like, this guy is talking about you guys and focusing and projecting onto you guys when his stuff was about to go up. I mean, that's the same Jax that I've known and been, dare I say, friends with for 17 years. It's like everything we've saw in Vanderpump Rules, it's everything we saw.
Starting point is 00:45:23 Every single reunion with Andy was Jack saying, you know, Andy, I'm just a work in progress. And Andy would be like, how many more years are we gonna sit here and you're gonna say that? Andy loves his poorly behaved men. He sure does. He certainly does.
Starting point is 00:45:39 Coast to the West Coast and back. He certainly fucking does. Oh my God. Okay guys, that wraps up part one. Make sure to follow us on social media. You can follow me on all platforms at Kristen Doty and follow Luke on Instagram at Luke double underscore Broderick.
Starting point is 00:46:02 Be sure to click the subscribe button so you can stay up to date with new episodes. Thanks for listening. See you next week.

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