The Viall Files - E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Going Deeper with Meredith Marks, OUR Mother of RHOSLC! Bravo just filmed the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion, and the tea is hot! Why does she feud with Angie Katsanevas, is she still in contact with Jen Shah, is Lisa Barlow really the villain, and is Whitney Rose the queen of rumors? We answer it all! “You can’t change the game, you have to change the way you play it” Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff every Monday starting October 21st! Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to [e-mail] to be a part of our Monday episodes. Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick’s Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to [e-mail] with “Texting Office Hours” in the subject line! To advertise on the show, contact [e-mail] or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/TheViallFiles  Thank You to Our Sponsors: Huggies - Learn More At https://www.Huggies.com  Wayfair - Set the scene for new holiday memories with Wayfair. Head to https://www.Wayfair.com. Every style, every home. Nutrafol - Right now, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off any order! Enjoy free shipping when you subscribe. Go to https://www.Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code VIALLGIFT. Laundry Sauce - Head to https://www.LaundrySauce.com/VIALL and use promo code VIALL at checkout for 15% off! That’s the best offer you’ll find but you MUST use my code, VIALL, for 15% off your order. Chewy - Don’t forget gifts for your pet this holiday season! Take advantage of amazing deals and shop my personal favorites at https://www.Chewy.com/viall  Vionic - Use new code VIALL at checkout for 15% off your entire order at https://www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Vionic Shoes. Wearable well-being for your feet. Episode Socials: @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @meredithmarks @justinkaphillips  @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell  

In the dry states of the Southwest, there's a group that's been denied a basic human right. In the Navajo Nation today, a third of our households don't have running water. But that's not something they chose for themselves. Can the Navajo people reclaim their right to water and contend with the government's legacy of control and neglect? Our water, our beauty. Our water, our beauty. That's in the next season of Reclaimed, the lifeblood of Navajo Nation.

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You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy. You're crazy.

You're crazy. You're crazy. And what's like, I feel like I want to ask 50 questions all at once, but yeah, how are you? I'm great. I'm happy to be in LA today and, you know, feeling better. I was really sick a couple of days ago on my birthday, which was not fun. You were sick on your birthday. Yeah, kind of sticks. What did you have? I don't know, just like a cough and cold and. Kind of that seasonal ickyness.

Yucky, yeah, just yucky. Were you able to enjoy the birthday? Well, so I spent the whole day in bed resting and then I finally got dressed and went with Seth I was so tired. Any bath bombs on your birthday? No, I didn't have any bath bombs on my birthday. I should have though. I just took like a quick bath to get dressed and go to dinner because I was really tired. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed.

I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna go to bed. I was like, I'm gonna tired. Any bath bombs on your birthday? No, I didn't have any bath bombs on my birthday. I should have though.

I just took like a quick bath to get dressed and go to dinner, because I was moving really slow. Okay. I've been into baths more recently and I actually asked Nick, I don't know if you have one, but a bath pillow and it's like this big, it's not like your typical over the back of the bathtub, bed bath and beyond pillow.

It's like a luxurious big like bedding pillow that you lean up against. Okay, I'm not familiar with this. I'll have to send you the link. Yes, I need to know all about this. Do you not have a bath pillow? No. You don't?

No, that was a thing. Are you not like a little uncomfortable in the bath where like my back kind of is up against this hard. I mean, I think it will be much more enjoyable to be on a pillow. It will be so much more enjoyable. I didn't know that was even a possibility. No, it's amazing. It opened my mind up. What do we have here, babe?

I sent you a link for Christmas, Nick. You didn't get it? Wait, is that on the shopping list? Yeah, but it's, I think the only one that they have right now is the foot pillow. So they have a butt pillow, a foot pillow and a back pillow. This like company. How do you keep it clean?

The one that I'm talking about, I don't know what any of these are, but the one that I'm talking about is like, um, you don't take the lining off and wash it. And then the inside is, uh, like dry is very fast. I mean, they can use like the gel you use like in an ice pack. I wonder what's on your list. Well, it is is it's sold out. So I had to write sold out Oh, is that the one that says sold out? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think I have to make a bath pillow No, you have to make a bath pillow. That's next for you Like it's a part of the tub. No, you do you need to draw up bath pillows next?

I like that's a great idea well I was telling the team we should get like like a 12 piece bath bomb centerpiece and then Justin was like, they're too hard to find, they're too in demand. Apparently. Everyone wants Meredith Marks bath bomb. Wow, we love that. Can we get more supply? And the bath bombs? Yeah, why are they so hard to find, Meredith?

They sold out in like a week. Let's get more. That's up to Lush, they've gotta do it. I don't control the inventory, they do. You just control the demand. They're the ones with the most, I mean, they're the ones with the most, they're the ones with the most,

they're the ones with the most, they're the ones with the most, they're the ones with the most, they're the ones with the most, they're the ones with the most, They sold out in like a week. Let's get more. That's up to Lush. They've got to do it. I don't control the inventory. They do. You just control the demand. They're the ones with the whole factory, you know? Not me. That's true, that's true. You just control the demand.

Exactly. So I did my job. They sold out in like a week. Do you like gifts? I mean, I do like gifts, but you know, I'm like, I'm not someone who will give you a huge list or whatever else. I like something that comes from someone's heart.

Yeah, it's not about getting what I want. It's more about the person who's giving. You know? And I think Natalie, my wife, who's sitting right next to you would probably not give me a lift if I listened. Yeah. And she knew I'd get something from the heart. You know, I feel like, and I don't know if you're this way,

I mean, you have three grown children, so I feel like maybe you've learned this throughout the years of like, maybe someone will say, oh God, I would love, I just need a good pair of black boots. You know, I need a good, you know, just like rant, they'll say that in January maybe or June, and then you clock that, you think about it,

Christmas, ah, they remember they wanted a good pair of black boots. Yeah, that's a really good gift giver. I might not be that good. Yeah. And if in January now he says, I need a good pair of black boots, I'm gonna go to a good pair of black boots.

I'm gonna go to Clark's or, exactly, exactly. Clark's? I don't know. Like who makes boots? Highlands? Highlander? Oh, my gosh. Yeah, so I do have to... I made, Nick, like, a full PDF of, like, pictures, the link, the size, the color. Very helpful.

See, this is the thing. I send out these family texts, like, to the whole family, extended everybody. I'm like, what does everybody want for the holidays? I want everyone to tell me, but then I want them to do all the hard part. I don't know. It's like, maybe that's not so nice at the end of the day,

but I just like, I want to give people what they want. Sometimes you just don't know. I just think it's very nice. I look at it as she's setting me up for success. She's making the list. She probably checked it twice. And then I click that link and I see if there's in stock. Okay, I think that's fair.

Right? I think that's good. Maybe I should be a little kinder to my husband and set him up for the kids. What has been the best gift you have received from Seth? My children. Ah. I thought you were gonna say an orgasm. No, I have to put the kids first, sorry.

The kids come first. But the orgasm is pretty good? That too. Okay. Goodness gracious. Yeah, so kids love, we love our kids, great. Yeah, the kids are great. What are your age gaps between year three?

They're like two years and two and a half years apart. So they're pretty close. Yeah. Did you like that? We had our first, she's 10 months old and we spent a half years apart. So they're pretty close. Yeah. Did you like that? We had our first, she's 10 months old and we spent a lot of time kind of asking parents like yours who've done it, have had success with parenting, like the age gap.

Like, do we jam it all in? Do we get it over with? Do we spread it out? Like pros and cons? I mean, for me, I would, look, I've seen like both ways, obviously. For me, I wanted everyone close together. First, because I'm two years apart from my sister

and I kind of like that dynamic as a kid. And secondly, just as like the parent, I mean, I think it's really hard to like have all your kids like out of diapers, very independent, and then go back to it again. I just think logistically, it's easier to have them a little closer in age. I think it's nice, like a nice dynamic for them,

to be closer in age for that. But then like I see the dynamics with kids that are spread further apart, and that's kind of amazing too. I just think from the mothering standpoint, it's so much easier to have them close together. But that's what I know, so. That's a good piece of advice.

Obviously y'all have just filmed the reunion. How are you feeling post-reunion? You know, I feel pretty good post-reunion. You know, I have no idea what will unfold and you know, obviously you're not gonna see all, I don't know how many hours we were there. Like, what was it like 15 hours or whatever? I'm making that up though.

Yeah, it was a long time. It was a long time. It was really long. So, you know, I don't know what will be shown or not shown, but I feel like I said the things that I really needed to say, and you have to move forward. Like that's life. Like I, no one wants to sit in the same place.

So, you know, I said what I needed to say. I don't know if I necessarily received everything I was hoping to receive, but it's fine. C'est la vie, we move on. And you, you know, you take that I needed to say. I don't know if I necessarily received everything I was hoping to receive, but it's fine. C'est la vie, we move on. And you know, you take that in stride and say, okay, this is what you're willing to be accountable for or not, and I got you and I'm moving on. And we'll move forward, but the capacity

in which we move forward is always impacted by your ability or inability to take accountability. Very true. Could you preview for us the reunion in the sense that who was on your list of you were hoping would be accountable? I think to me the most important thing for the reunion was to clear something up that I've spent two years listening to the women, mainly at this point, mainly Angie, you know, to some degree still Whitney, but say that I'm responsible for these rumors about Sean and his affairs or

his sexuality or whatever it is. And the reality is I never spoke about it. Angie was told that at Oprey Ski, Monica, actually you didn't see it, but Monica, when I first came over and was talking with him, Monica, I looked at Monica, I go, what is this about? I never said this to you. And she goes, you're right, I didn't, you didn't, I told you. And she said this to Angie the day it happened.

And for whatever reason, you know, Angie kept coming after me. She was told again at Greek Easter. She kept rolling with it. We cleared it up again at reunion last year. Monica has on her own podcast, been very clear that it wasn't me. And Angie keeps putting it out there. And so for me, the real big difficulty with that whole thing,

and Sean, you know, his commentary on the podcast saying that, and leverage means to use to maximum advantage for those who need a dictionary. She leveraged her son means she used her son. She leveraged her son, exact words. The reason it's so offensive to me was because it's not, it's impossible. How could I use my son to defend myself

against something I never even did to begin with? So the whole thing was just insane. And it just felt like a very like vindictive behavior towards me because I didn't understand why they kept coming after me for something that they knew I didn't do from the day that it even came up. Do you think maybe it's just like,

they just assume maybe from past situations that it was you because you seem, I think a lot of people think, well, you are very smart, you have a lawyer background. I think in previous seasons, it was like, when I got into Salt Lake City, it was always like, Meredith, Mark, she can always like find the T

and she kind of maneuvers that way. Do you think that was accurate maybe in the past and not so much this time? Or do you think that reputation is just kind of completely unfair? I think it's pretty unfair. I mean, I think that we all receive information about each other.

That's 100% true. I've gotten DMs recently about people, you know, not just even my castmates. Like I just got one this morning about a person I use for glam. And I was like, what? I mean, it was so weird. I was like, you know,

so we get sent stuff all the time. Like there are rumors flying about absolutely everybody. And they all hear it. I hear it. We do. It's not like I'm doing anything. Quite frankly, I have said the least about anyone else on this cast. I have said very little.

I mean, I'll talk about how I feel. I'll talk about how I'm treated by them. But I don't talk about their other stuff. I really don't. I mean, I'll listen. I can't control what's said to me. That I have no control over. Do you ladies have a rule

between what rumors are discussed in platform? Because sometimes it's like even on the show, and I don't know how much is the show, where it's just like, I think it was like the Whitney, the Alibaba stuff, I don't know where that came from. But it was like, I think Lisa was like, well, this is happening and this is what people are saying. And then we're all watching a show and you guys are discussing a rumor, but discussing

the rumor kind of platforms the rumor. And I was like, well, now the rumor's out there. And whoever the rumor is about most of the time, well, especially if it's inaccurate, but either way, you would just like, you don't want the rumor out there. And it's, it feels like sometimes the group kind of picks and choose which rumors to talk about. Like how do you guys decide? Or is that just like an individual basis? I don't think there's any, I mean, look, I can't speak for anyone but myself. I don't have any agreements with anyone

of what to bring up or not to bring up. I'm not the one who brings stuff up generally. I'm really not. I mean, Lisa brought that to me. I didn't bring it to Lisa. When I even mentioned, you know, let's talk about the husbands and whatever with Lisa, it was all a reaction to stuff Angie was saying

about my husband that just wasn't shown. You know, she was saying horrible things at that table about my husband. That's the only reason I said, let's talk about the husbands. So, you know, it wasn't in reference to- You don't throw the first stone. No, but I am human.

Right, no, totally, yeah. I'm not saying that was an appropriate reaction. Of course, I shouldn't have said anything, but I'm a human being, and I lose my temper too, just like everybody else. Yeah, and if someone's coming after your husband, I would be very protective as well. Yeah, and I didn't even say anything about her husband.

She had a lot of nasty things to say about mine, though. Everything she has accused me of are things that she has actually done to me. That's the crazy part. Look at her scroll. Those are all things she's done to me. I've done none of them to her. That's right, I forgot that that scroll.

Really? Yeah. How do you move forward with Angie if it is like this constant thing where, I mean, we have seen her apologies that aren't the best apologies. And if like you feel like you're just chasing one, how do you move on?

Well, I'm not chasing an apology because I don't really want an apology that somebody doesn't want to give to me. So it's not about someone admitting that they're wrong or saying that they're sorry, it's about them genuinely feeling it, you know, and if it's fake, it's irrelevant anyway. So it's not about

that. I don't, you know, I don't really care that much. It's more for me, if you notice every, almost every single confrontation that has gone on between me and Angie, it's been her approaching me. She always has a problem with me. She's holding a grudge against me. I honestly think she feels like I stole her snowflake. And that's really what the problem started from because she seemed to have an issue with me from before we ever even, you know, knew each other. You know, I think she feels like, well, you know, Meredith's only in Utah half the time. She's not originally from here. And she wanted to be on the show from day one. And I think she felt like I took her spot and was like angry at me. I don't know. That's the only thing I can think of. I don't really because I didn't

know her and we had like problems from before we even knew each other. It's odd but it's not about me. If she wants to move forward, we can move forward as long as she stops bringing another problem to me. Like every time I see her, she has another problem, you know, and she's interrupting the next guy to, you know, da da da da. So it's up to her at this point, you know, I'm moving on everything we discussed at reunion, you know, her reactions, her behaviors and what she says about it speaks to who she is. So if she doesn't want to take accountability that speaks to her. That's fine I'm still moving on. I'm not sitting in the past if you were to try to just radical Empathy, how do you from your POV? How do you think Angie?

Sees this situation like what's her perspective or why there's such a disconnect between both of your POVs on the situation. I think that she had a problem with me, like I said, before we ever really met. And I say that for a number of reasons. Number one, she herself has- Do you think she would agree, be like, yeah, I've never really liked Meredith since the beginning?

I don't think she'd actually admit that. I think, I don't know what she would say. Maybe she would, I have no idea. I really don't know. I don't really know her at the end of the day. So I don't know what she would say. Maybe she would, I have no idea. I really don't know. I don't really know her at the end of the day. So I don't know, maybe she would, I don't know. The reason I say it is, she flat out told me that she was ripping into me with Jen

before anything started. She basically apologized to Brooks to listen about listening to things about him when she first met him, it was very odd you know she's had a problem from day one so I've just sort of gone about living my life and try to ignore it and and keep moving on and she keeps coming back with more problems so hopefully she's ready to move on and be an adult here I don't know. I do think you are able to be the bigger person I mean I think we especially saw it in this last episode where at the dinner table, you're like,

okay, maybe I don't know the full story about the whole slut shaming and high body count hair. And you were able to be like, I think, you know, I'm sorry and I don't know the full story. And it would be nice to hear that from her. I agree. Yeah, I mean, look, if I am in the wrong, I have no problem apologizing.

I can even apologize for a situation where I don't think I'm in the wrong. Like it was very easy for me to say to Sean, I didn't do this, but I feel badly that you even went through it and that you even thought I had a part in it, you know? And I could apologize even for that, even though I didn't do it.

And so to me, you know, I just, I don't understand. Like if somebody's hurt, I just, I don't understand. If somebody's hurt, I'm sorry that they are hurt, whether I caused it or not. It's at least okay to acknowledge someone else's pain. Finish the sentence. This season of Salt Lake City for Meredith was blank. How would you summarize it?

This season of Salt Lake City was enlightening. How was it enlightening? I think I learned a lot more about myself. I think I learned a lot more about most of the other women. I think I learned that you can't change the game, you have to change the way you play it. And I think that's really important. I love that. Okay, so many potential questions from your answer. I love it. How have you changed?

Or what did you learn about yourself? And then let's go down the what did we learn about the ladies? I learned that I've become a little reactive on things and I want to go back to not being as reactive. I think that I felt for a long time that I was not being heard because I wasn't yelling and screaming and that yelling and screaming could solve some of that

and it really doesn't. It is great to you, Vy. It is, but it just kind of makes you feel crazy. You can't believe. That was iconic. I've learned that, you know, there's always going to be another perspective in the way people view things, you know,

especially like with the conflict I had with Mary and how she viewed this all unfolding versus how I did. So that was very interesting that you also don't necessarily always know what's going on behind the scenes that's impacting the way someone behaves and treats you. And it's important to do your best. I mean, I did ask and I tried,

but maybe could have done better. I'm always trying to do better, I am. I don't know, I mean, that's kind of, I think. Okay, that's a great answer. What about, what did we learn about Lisa? I learned that Lisa and I really had a lot of misunderstandings. We really went into this whole process

with pretty poor communication with each other. And it led to a lot of really big problems. And I've learned from Lisa that different friends have different needs from their friends and they have different requirements that you may or may not require. And sometimes it's hard to navigate that. Like I'm not someone who needs a ton of reassurance

and Lisa is and my husband is. And that's something I learned, you know, through a lot of the stuff I went through with Seth. And so once I was able to understand that, which took a while, I was able to better navigate the friendship. And Lisa and I have learned really just to be very straightforward with each other

and we're not letting everyone else get in between us. There's a lot of gas thrown on the fire. I think there's a lot of jealousy that we are friends, maybe some fear to some degree, I don't know. But I think a lot of the women don't want us to be friends. And it's seen, I mean, you saw a lot of it through the season. A lot of meddling and now we're very aware of it. So it's like, keep trying, go for it.

It's just gonna show who you are. Who medals the most between, in trying to break you and Lisa up, do you feel? I mean, I think over the long term, we'd have to break you and Lisa up, do you feel? I mean, I think over the long term, we'd have to say Whitney for sure. Why do you think that? Why do I think she does that?

I don't know. I don't understand. Why do you think that is? I guess, like what are, Oh, like the evidence, why is it evident? What's the evidence from your perspective? Just things she said to me about Lisa, things I know she's said to Lisa about me, things

she's stirred the pot in, like my father's memorial. She told me it was all Lisa's fault, that she had nothing to do with it, this, that, and the other. Things like that. She plays a lot of behind the scenes games, stirring things up. She told Lisa, there's this whole thing at Whitney's, what was it, when she rebranded and she invited some guy to the party that she was saying that was like sleeping with Lisa, which wasn't true and was like trying to apparently make a whole thing out of it and then she told Lisa that I invited this guy. I

didn't even know who the guy was at the party. I found out after the fact when Whitney told me. So you know it's like, how could I have invited the guy? I didn't even know who the guy was at the party. I found out after the fact when Whitney told me. So, you know, it's like, how could I have invited the guy? I didn't even know who he was, you know? And the whole thing was insane. And who was the guy again? Some guy, I don't even know. Lisa knew years ago. And then Whitney was saying how there was something

going on between Lisa and this guy? Yeah, I don't know. Whitney was making this whole thing up that Lisa was having an affair with him and was bringing him supposedly to like out Lisa. I don't know the whole thing is insane, you know, but then she went the whole thing's insane to begin with that anyone's going to those lengths to try to out somebody but above and beyond that she then tried to blame it on me. She tried to blame calling Mary a predator on me, you know, like it just it keeps she keeps

trying to blame her actions on me and usually it's in the form of trying to ruin my relationship with Lisa, but apparently it branched out into Mary now too. So there we go. But you would say you and Lisa are closer than ever? Yes, Lisa and I are definitely closer than ever. And we have a totally new and different friendship. And it's kind of like, you know,

I say the same thing with my marriage. Like Seth and I went through some really tough times and we nearly got divorced. We didn't, we were separated, but we called our second marriage. It's a new relationship. And I feel the same way about Lisa. And so like when the girls are always trying

to throw history in our face, like you did this, you did that, da da da da da, we embarked on a new friendship. So we don't care about what happened in the past and we're not going to let it impact the present. And so maybe when they get that memo, maybe if they're listening, they will, and they stop trying to do that,

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Okay. How long have you and Seth been married? Total. 28 years. 28 years. Okay. Okay. How long have you and Seth been married? Total. 28 years. 28 years. Yeah. Holy shit.

Yeah. What almost caused the divorce? Oh my gosh. Well, we were separated on and off multiple times over like years. And when we were almost getting divorced and when we had filed was when the kids all left the house. And that became the time where it was kind of like...

So you got straight up filed. Yeah, but we never really went down the path. It was a filing that never went anywhere. But basically we went and found a better therapist. Okay. But yeah, when the kids were all out of the house, it was like there's no reason to stay together anymore. And so if we're not going to make this work, and we didn't really think we were,

because we had seen other therapists, we had been in couples counseling, and we just thought like, that it was not going to happen. And then we got this incredible new therapist we were recommended to. And he like basically taught us how to communicate with each other. I mean, that was the whole problem. Our communication was completely broken. Wow. Can you give us any tips and tricks for the people listening?

Yeah, yeah. Like instead, like if someone tells you their feelings, accept it and don't take it as, you know, a judgment on you, you know, and embrace and tell them like, of course you don't want it as a judgment on you, and embrace and tell them, of course you don't want them to feel that way. Seth would be like, I feel da-da-da, and I'd be like, well you da-da-da-da.

You'd be like, well you ba-ba-ba. You get defensive, you get, yeah. That doesn't work. It's like I'm sad, I didn't do anything to make you sad or something. Exactly, exactly. And so of course, if Seth is hurt or upset, I don't want him to feel that way,

and maybe I don't agree with what he thinks I did, but he still is entitled to feel that way. And I don't want, you know, you have to be respectful. So that's really the bottom line for us, more than anything was learning how to be respectful of each other's feelings. And then we started to communicate, you know, deeply again, but for a while our communications

just became completely transactional because when it went beyond that, it was just nasty. When was this reunion between you and Seth? Really during COVID more than anything. I'm probably one of the few people on this planet who can say that real housewives coupled with COVID saved their marriage. So I have the feeling it might be the only thing.

Besides, you might be the only. I think it's in a very good or you have to be very strong to survive the drama that is what you ladies do. Because, I mean, truly, I say this all the time, if someone knows what it's like to be on reality TV, certainly not what it's like to be in your world, but just you ladies do. Regardless of the commentary, we talk about the show and we love it as fans, and whether we're like team Meredith or team Whitney, all of you ladies give a lot of your lives.

You know, I love the Salt Lake City opening in a way that like, I don't think other, I love how you guys really talk about how authentic and how vulnerable each of you are, you know, and you, and it's tough. It's tough to maintain of a norm, like normalcy, you know, family and the relationship, you know, so much is, you know, put out there for us to judge and criticize and that must be very difficult at times. So for you guys to not only make

it work, but to re reunite during that period is really something. Yeah, I mean, because we were in the space that we were in working on our communication and, you know, with the therapist, I and then of course, when the world shut down, you do a very deep reevaluation of what's important in life. Everyone thought they were dying. And so I just think that those things put together, reality TV, yes, it can be very difficult, but it also can be, like I said, enlightening.

If you're someone who can be introspective and self-reflective, and I'm not saying every one of the women that are on my show can be, but some can, some cannot, and I think I can, you really can learn a lot about yourself and about like the way, if you are open to learning, you know, and to me it's like, it's not just about always being right, it's about me understanding like why someone perceived what I was doing was whatever it was when that wasn't my intentions that I can do better and be better. You know, and a lot of the women play this like tip for tap game, like you did this to me, so I'm going to do that to you.

You were nice to me. So that's not the way I live at all. You know, I try to do better. I try to be better. I try to me. So that's not the way I live at all. I try to do better. I try to be better. I try to grow. To me, giving is about wanting to give. Like, Angie's whole thing, I gave you a present.

I don't give people presents to hold it over their heads. I did have an anniversary gift for them. She knows this. I had received some sad news right before I walked in to the thing and was very stressed and forgot her gift. And she knew that. But it's fine. It's no big deal. bad news right before I walked in to the thing and was very stressed and forgot her gift. And she knew that, but it's fine. It's no big deal, you know?

And then the next time I saw them was Palm Springs and that didn't go well. So I didn't feel like giving them the gift. So I wasn't going to still have it. Maybe I will this year. What's the gift? What? What's the gift? I'm not telling.

It's not shampoo. Maybe she'll be nicer when she finds out you got her some cool shit. Maybe it's just caviar. She wants to give me the shampoo, I'll give it. No, it's not caviar. You and Seth, like right now, stronger than ever, doing well?

We are, you know, it's been a little bit of a tougher year because like I said, like this whole thing, everything locked down in COVID. And then he was like, I was with him, you know, during lockdown. And then after that, he was pretty much working remote. So he was just traveling wherever I needed to be and doing whatever I needed to do. And then this year and, you know, in the new year in January, he really needed to be in Columbus.

And as the year progressed, needed to spend more and more and more and more time there. And it was hard because it's not what we were used to. We got very used to being together all the time. And, you know, as much as he can get on my nerves from time to time, it is really nice, you know, and it's, it's like, you're connected. And when we're in different places, it's tough because like, oh, call me when he gets home from dinner and I'm on my way out to dinner and you're on different schedules

and so it's hard to even connect and catch up. So it's been tough. Especially with couples, right? Because I think, Nellie and I, when we met, she was living in Savannah. I was in LA. So when it's long distance there, there's an excitement to call, download your day, whatever.

But once you have a routine with someone, you live together when you're catching up. It's like, how's your day? It's like, good. Okay, bye. It's harder to just sit down and have a chat and connect when you feel like you know everything about that person in person person much easier just to,

you can connect in a million different ways other than words and things like that and communicate that way. So yeah, it doesn't make it much tougher. Exactly, even if we're just in the same bed at night, even if we're both running and doing totally different things all day and we're just like that intertwined leg,

whatever it is, that little, like those connections I think are important. So it is difficult, but we'll see, you know, what the next chapter brings. He's wrapping up what he's been working on and moving on. And so I'm hopeful that he'll be with me more. Maybe be in Columbus less and with you more. Yeah, cause I just, I think during the Palm Springs episode,

I feel like with, you feel like he had to leave, and I feel like there was online speculation, it's like, oh, is this gonna be the beginning of something wrong with Meredith and Seth? But for the most part, we're doing okay. Oh no, we're doing great. We're nowhere at that place. Nowhere even near that place.

How did you guys deal when you guys did file, or when it was like, I don't know if we're gonna make it, how did you guys communicate that with the kids? And how did, yeah, what is that like from a parent? Hopefully now and I never deal with that, but I'm sure over the years, there'll be moments of disconnect and we'll have to work to stay connected.

But that must be very scary and challenging to feel like you're in this disconnection with your husband and considering divorce, knowing that you have children, and then what are we gonna say? What was that like and how did you guys handle that? Yeah, it's horrible. Because, you know, all you every parent wants to do is to protect their kids. And that's all we wanted was to protect our kids. And that's why we were, you know, very secretive about all of our problems from them. Like they really didn't,

I mean, at least I like to think they didn't know, they probably did at some level. And I don't know, the crazy thing for me is that I had always said, like, I want my kids to witness healthy relationships. And like, if my marriage isn't good, I need to just like move on and get a divorce and not, you know, let them live in that life.

And I did the exact opposite when it actually happened to me. And I don't really know why, you know, I think it was kind of like, oh, we've live in that life. And I did the exact opposite when it actually happened to me. And I don't really know why, you know, I think it was kind of like, oh, we made it this far. There's not, you know, the kids are almost out of the house. Let it just, whatever. And it was a really bad idea because the more you try to sweep things under the rug,

the more they like rear their ugly heads and it just gets worse and snowballs and exacerbates itself. And so I wouldn't recommend anyone following the path that I went down during that time. I don't think it was a positive way to handle things. The path I would recommend following would be our reconciliation.

Is there anything from this season, cause you talked about being reflective and being able to admit you're wrong, is there anything looking back? Because I would, I mean, shit, when I was on TV, something happens, you're in a fight, you leave that, and like you said, the benefit of TV is you get to go back and have it replayed, and assuming everything is shown

as it airs, you can, sometimes I'm like, oh, well. Yeah, I'd love to point something out about that. That's interesting that you brought that up, because you know what you're talking about. You're talking about when we were at Mary's lunch and Angie said something about the past. And I said, well, if you want to go backwards, I don't think that's productive.

Do you want to go backwards? I don't want to go backwards. And she was like, are you threatening me? I'm so glad you brought that up actually. Thank you. For a few reasons. First and foremost, you saw that up actually. Thank you. Thank you. For a few reasons. First and foremost, you saw that exact same dynamic moments earlier with Bronwyn and her prenup and nobody had a problem with her

saying that. But she's like, you want to talk about my prenup? We can go there. I don't think you're going to like the outcome or whatever it was, something like that. Same exact dynamic, not a problem. It's a double standard with me, with the ladies. I was not threatening Angie. I was saying, I don't want to go backwards. Like I don't think it's positive for me or for her. That's not a threat in my view. Just like in general, you don't want to live in the past.

You don't wanna, yeah, yeah. No, I don't. I don't think that's positive. It was free advice. It was weird to me that she was so offended and she keeps making these accusations of me threatening her, but the reality is she's the one who has threatened me in the cave in Bermuda.

She flat out looked at me and said, I am threatening you. Like, it couldn't be any more clear, you know? And then we see her confessionals, her like speculator and taking a hit out on my family, whatever. I think that was a joke, but my point is- Strong joke. I'm not the one making the threats here. Do you think it's because there's a little bit of, I guess, fear of what they think you could be capable of because you have the education and background that you do as opposed to someone else saying something?

It just seems more or less harmless? Well, maybe I should make a threat. You should be. No, I'm kidding. I will say, a question. Would you rather be liked or respected? I'd rather be respected. I'm not the one that's making the threats here, I'm kidding. I will say, a question.

Would you rather be liked or respected? I'd rather be respected. I don't really care. I don't really care if people like me. Would you rather be liked or feared? I don't think I really want to be feared. Not like scary or bad, but like, not so bad if people are a little.

Feared, I'm not sure if that's the exact thing I would want. I don't think I'd want that. But respected, yes. Respected, yes. Sometimes you fear people you respect. Just because you fear someone doesn't mean they're bad or capable of doing something bad.

Maybe you're just like, you fear what they're capable of. Especially if you're in the wrong sometimes, you know, maybe you. Okay, then I'm okay with fear. I'm fine with people being afraid of me, yeah. Speaking of people being afraid and fear, you are still in communication with Jinsha. Well, I spoke, she called.

Like yesterday? I don't know, a couple, no, like a couple months ago. And that's the only time I've ever communicated with her. What's that call like? It was wild. I answered the phone and it's like, you are- You have a collect call. Have a call from a federal penitentiary

I don't know Immediately assumed it was Jen. Well, yeah, that's the only call I'd be getting from a federal penitentiary So yeah, so and you know It's limited to ten minutes and the recorded voice comes on probably every three to remind you that you're on the phone with a federal penitentiary. Are you sure you want to do this? Yeah, yeah, exactly. So, you know, it was a very like simple call, you know, because- She would just call in to say hi? Just check in?

Pretty much, you know, just kind of, I mean, it was really like, how's your family? What's going on? She seemed relatively upbeat and she seemed to be doing well and I know. Didn't ask you to bake a cake and put a spoon in it or anything? No, none of that, none of that, no smuggling. Yeah, no, I mean, I think she's serving her time and paying the restitution that she can.

And I'm told that coach is assisting and paying restitution as well. So what else can you ask for? Yeah, and how do you kind of, as a friend, how do you reconcile with that versus, you know, hey, she did a thing, it wasn't great. There's certainly victims involved. I think anyone in our lives that we care about, you know, we, she did a thing, it wasn't great, there's certainly victims involved.

I think anyone in our lives that we care about, you know, we wanna offer grace for the same reasons that we hope people offer us grace, you know, if we fuck up, you know, and then we have to kind of measure the fuck up versus like, am I even capable of doing like that, something like that? And so how have you reconciled your relationship with Jen versus like what she did and kind of where she is now,

if there has been any growth or reconciliation on her part. Yeah, I mean, I'm very hopeful that there's been growth. I don't know, because I'm not in consistent communication with her, but from what I'm told, that she is working on herself very hard. It's interesting to me because I think a lot of people didn't understand what happened in season three

and how I was able to be there for Jen and why I was able to turn my attitude around with her, especially after what we went through with Brooks and how, obviously, I'm very protective of Brooks. I don't think anyone would debate that. And the reality is, you know, Jen during that time had, you know, made an attempt on her life. And I went through that with my nephew at that same point in time. And it weighed very heavy on me. And I made a commitment to myself that you know if in fact she was innocent then I'd stand

by and you know help her work through that and get the help she needed at that point and if in fact she was not I was not I just she needed support and I just I couldn't watch that with what I had been through and so I just let it all go and that's what I had been through. And so I just let it all go. And that's what's so funny to me, cause these women are like, she holds grudges. I hold grudges at least of anybody. Like I let everything go very, very easily. I'm pretty forgiving.

And so that's really what happened. I just, I said, you know, I've got you. I, you know, I'm whatever happened in the past is in the past. And I wanted to make sure that she made it through the process alive. That was really the bottom line to me. So she and I have work to do when she gets out if there's going to be something to move forward on. We didn't really resolve anything. We tabled it and she can show that she and, and wants to do better and we can move on or she can show that she hasn't.

I'm hopeful, you know, for the former. But you're, you're, you're willing clearly to give her the opportunity to see if she has growth. Well, of course. I mean, let me ask you this. Like we have to believe in second chances in life, you know, otherwise what is there left? Like, what am I supposed to say?

You did something that's so bad. You should go sit in the corner and just die. Like, no, you know, otherwise, what is there left? Like, what am I supposed to say? You did something that's so bad, you should go sit in the corner and just die. Like, no, you can't, if you, if she's being accountable, if she's being apologetic, if she's paying her dues, you know, served her time and is paying her restitution and makes right on any wrongs that she had done to the people around her, you know, her friends.

What more could you ask someone for? Like, you gotta move on. Is there any part of you that would want her back on the show? I mean, that's not my choice, so I don't know. No, but we would love to know if it was. Like, if casting or the producers called you up to Meredith, we're just, we're struggling here.

Not really sure what we should do with Jen. We trust your judgment. You have great taste. What do you think, Meredith? The buck stops with you. Yeah, I think it would have to be like kind of baby steps to see how she handles everything, you know? I think-

Like a friend of, do a scene. I don't know. I think like, you know, I think a lot of times when anyone new comes in, no one really knows what capacity they're coming in as. And so, I mean, I don't think they should like make any kind of guarantees, but I think like people deserve a second chance in my view

if they're righting the wrongs. Would you rather have Jen or Monica back? I think that the issue for me with Monica is that she hasn't taken accountability. And I think that that would be a first step to anything. Whereas, I mean, Jen's had the roughest of accountability. Like she's in federal prison. That's a pretty big hell of a call.

Has Jen apologized to you or the other ladies for whatever lies she may have told or deception she might have kind of portrayed between? I mean, that's what I'm saying. That's why what I'm saying, I'm saying everything kind of went on hold and there's stuff to work through still. Okay. So we have to see where that goes. But my point is like second chances, you know, let's see if she can step up. I think she can.

What part with Monica do you think she needs to take accountability for? Like, you know, it's been a while since we had Monica here and interviewed her, and certainly she was very defensive of her POV. I think it was a lot of remaining the like, I never said anything about the women on the show that was the other people who were running the account. I think she still stands by that.

Yeah, but from your, I guess your point of view, Meredith, just between you and Monica, if Monica called you up and was kind of like, hey, Meredith, what's up? What would you want to hear from her for you to be open to the possibility of considering Monica was heading in the right direction? So what's really interesting to me with Monica is that she has publicly taken accountability

for a lot of the issues that I personally had with her. She just never did it with me. Okay. So, but on her own podcast, she, I mean, like, I have a whole audio clip from her podcast where, you know, she was, they were explaining, like, Angie's scroll to her and she goes, oh, I did all of those things. Why is she accusing Meredith of this?

Da da da da da da da da da. And so she did take accountability for it, just not to me and not at Reunion and not in a way that, like, would help move her forward. I mean, it's kind of odd to me that that's how and not in a way that like would help move her forward. I mean, it's kind of odd to me that that's how she chose to do it, but I'm glad she did. The holidays are here and when you're crossing names off your holiday list, you can't forget your pet.

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Yeah, no. That would have been a hard no for me. Okay. Where do you stand with Heather? Heather, we're good. We're good. You'll see we have a little bit of conflict at one point, you'll see, but you know, we're good, we're good. Okay. We're great. She texted me on my birthday and everything's all good.

Okay. Where is May Lee in all of this? I feel like she's been introduced and then she kind of- MIA. Yeah. You know, she kind of. MIA. Yeah. You know, she kind of disappeared, you know, like she was around at the beginning and then I don't know what happened

and why she wasn't really around. I'm not sure what happened. Like she was, I mean, obviously she wasn't invited to Palm Springs so that like narrowed it down a little there. And then like the next time we see her really was, saw her was at camping. And then she didn't go on the trip to Puerto Vallarta. So I guess it's really it. She missed two of the trips.

So that kind of maybe after the she got roped into high body count hair. Her bump it. Her bump it. Yeah, her bump it with Brittany. She was like, you know what? Maybe I've done with these people, yeah. I've had, look, I wouldn't blame her. From a TV standpoint, I've really enjoyed the newcomers in Browyn and Brittany. They're very entertaining.

How is your relationship with both of those ladies and how do you see their kind of arrival onto the scene? Browyn and Brittany, you know, I made a choice going into the season with all the newbies that I've had too many surprises in the past with newbies, and that I was kind of reserving all judgment until I actually saw the full season. I had some ups and downs with both,

mostly at the end, you'll see. Can you tease which one in particular? Well, I think we all saw me screaming like a crazy person on the van. You're recording us. You're vile and disgusting. Yeah, it was not my finest moment, but it was real. I was pretty upset. And there was other stuff that kind of went down Other stuff that kind of went down in the same timeframe that probably incited me a bit more and kind of all combined created the explosion. So yes, we definitely had some ups and downs

and Bronwyn was a little more of an easy resolution. I think it was pretty easy to clean up at reunion. Brawn strikes me, we got to interview her, we met her, we saw her at Kathy Hilton's party. Why were you at Kathy Hilton's Christmas party? Well, I went last night for the GLAAD party. I couldn't come in, I had other stuff in New York last week. Busy, busy.

Just busy. I have to pick and choose my weeks in LA. Yeah, Brawn in her vibe, which is why I partly just really enjoy her as a housewife is sure she can be messy. She seems to want to be a good housewife and make her mark, but she does seem to be willing to take accountability. She seems to apologize pretty easily.

Do you agree, disagree? Yeah, I think so. I think apologize very easily. Yes, accountability, if she agrees, yes think so. I think, apologize very easily. Yes, accountability if she agrees, yes. Yes. I think she plays a little bit with semantics, but yes, I agree with what you're saying. I do. Brittany, I mean, TV-wise, I didn't realize how much I enjoy watching her until Palm Springs when I was like, wait, what's missing? It's like Britney.

I do struggle though, just as a new father. It's been a challenge for me and I'm curious as someone who's gotten to know her to see her, you know, I love that she's out there dating. I love that she's still pursuing love at this stage of her life. It's sometimes hard to watch when she references her disconnect with her children, almost as like an afterthought, you know? It's just like how it comes across. How do you see that? Have you guys have had any conversations about that?

Obviously kind of a sensitive issue with children involved, but like she does bring it up. You know, is that as tough for you as someone who's obviously very protective and very involved in your children's lives for Brittany to at least seemingly prioritize some of these messy men over her children, or is that an unfair statement? I don't know enough about her situation to know if that's a fair or unfair statement, but it's hard.

I mean, it's a really tough situation. First of all, I don't really fully understand the circumstances of her relationship with the kids and exactly why it is broken or somewhat broken. I think it's somewhat repaired, but I'm not sure. She had an announcement and she did spend time with. Exactly, we got an announcement. So it's tricky because you never really understand.

I mean, for me, there's nothing that's more important than my children. I don't know that she doesn't feel the same way. I would imagine she does. I think she's had certain traumas that maybe have made her take actions that she regrets. It's hard to speak for somebody else. I mean, I think she genuinely loves her children and wants a positive relationship there. And I think, you know, that she wants to try to repair it. So I hope she does, you know.

How have you managed your public life with, you know, your relationship with your children? Because I don't know, I imagine there that must bring challenges, you know, especially when you're involved in drama or whatever, like, are your kids pretty cool with that? Has it ever created any ripples in terms of frustration with your kids for having to protect their mom? I don't know, I'm just trying to think of all the things that young kids or young adults or teenagers

might take exception with their parents being on TV. Nothing major and nothing recent, but you know, the beginning, it was a little trickier. First of all, they were younger and like, you know, you say something that you don't realize is something you're not supposed to say because they're young and sensitive, you know, and and then you feel horrible and that's a whole issue and whatever else. So we had that. And then, you know, of course, like there was a lot of trolling with Brooks, you know, when we first started, and that was a little rough, but that's all fine. Like, you know, I think my whole family has grown to have thicker skin. And we've just grown a lot

closer, you know, it's like you recognize how important family is, you recognize how important these relationships are, and that you really are there to support each other, really are the ones who understand what's going on, because there's a lot of elements that people can't possibly even understand what you deal with. How have you kind of handled involving your kids? I think there's obviously with this season,

what Mary's going through with her son, I mean, I haven't in the past two episodes of crying just watching the scene. And you know, there's a lot of discourse online, which I kind of, I've been on both sides. I think one side, you know, you have some people being like, should we be watching this almost feels like too intrusive. On the other side, I really have appreciated how Mary has addressed this very sad situation and the vulnerability that she has presented. I thought I was just really brave of her as a parent to…

To me, it wasn't about taking blame, but I think sometimes in situations as parents, a lot of people are like, oh, it's never your fault. Your friends will be like, oh, you know, and which I completely agree. There's a lot of things that are outside of our control. I just really appreciated Mary's willingness to consider the possibility that like, she had a role to play and not for like blaming herself, but it was what seemed obvious to me is that all Mary cared about was her son and her son getting better.

And she was willing to take whatever accountability she needed to, if there was accountability to take, just for her son to get better. And I just really thought that was a really positive and healthy message to kind of share with the world, even at the risk of airing something that seemed very personal and sensitive. I guess, how do you see it,

and how do you balance that on your own and with your family between trying to figure out, like, should we be airing this out and sharing with us the world or hey this could have a positive impact on maybe other people's lives who are struggling with who have kids struggling with addiction and things like that. So how do you see it? Look, I think that the message Mary sent to you know a lot of kids who could be in very fragile circumstances, you know, go seek help from your mother, your parents. I think it's such an important message that maybe not everyone would do that if they were

in the same shoes, but I don't think you can criticize it. You know, I think like you're sharing something that could really help a lot of people, like could save lives, you know. And so I don't think you can criticize that, you know? I think that's not fair. Like maybe it wouldn't be right for you and your personal circumstances, but we all, I think, share things because,

I mean, at least I hope we want to help others, you know? And we want to make things better for other people. I mean, I hope that's what we're all doing to some extent. And that's why like with the hearing aid thing, I was irritated because I'm like, you know, I shared this because there are so many people out there that have such a stigma around it. And I wanted people to feel positive and good about it.

And so I was like, if you're making fun of it, you're taking away from the positive message I'm sending to people. And you know, so that's why, you know, it wasn't that big of a deal, but that's why it was a big deal to me. Because I was trying to make things better for other people by sharing my experience, and I felt like it was detracting

from the positive messages I was sending. It's not like it was that, you know. With very traumatic situations like the one Mary's going through, despite all the drama, are those things that bring the group together and kind of like, hey, despite any differences, we need to come together for Mary, who really is, you know, it's one thing to be fighting about who said what or what rumors were spreading.

And then there's another thing to have a friend in need because her son is trying to survive. And be like, we're all moms, like we all, you know. Yeah, I mean, in theory, yes, I do think that's true, but in reality, I didn't know anything about this until it went on social media in like September, October, whenever we all read about it. So I knew nothing about it.

I don't think anybody did, except for Angie, as far as I know, but maybe, I don't know. I'm not sure. Have there been any kind of follow ups with Mary, since the revelation, in terms of checking in? Oh, I reached out to her immediately when I read the news, and she said, no, everything's good.

This was during, cause I didn't know if it was, the way the news read, I thought it was in real time. I didn't know that it had already happened. And she's like, said, no, no, no, everything's good. That was, you know, during filming and whatever. And so, you know, of course I checked in and my nephew also offered, you know, to be of any help he could be

because he went through a very similar circumstance. And yeah, but no, Mary and I had a nice little text from when I was in New York. I ran into her stylist at Saks and he actually came up at reunion randomly. So I was telling him about it and I texted Mary, you know, and told her that I saw him and that was it. Yeah.

Jumping ship just a little bit, where do the rumors, the Airbnbs, the like, you don't live in a real, you don't own your own house, like where is this coming from? Why is it still being brought up? Yeah, it's kind of creepy how obsessed they are with like my lifestyle.

It's weird. That she just like doesn't own her own home and every season it's a new home and they say it's like Airbnbs and it's like. I mean, it's not an Airbnb, but it is a winter ski rental. You know, I mean, whatever, Air an Airbnb, but it is a winter ski rental. You know, I mean, whatever Airbnb, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, I do take a winter ski rental in the winter.

You know, when Seth and I bowled for divorce years ago, we sold our house in Park City. It was a second home. We have not lived in Park City full time for over a decade now. We're part timers. And, you know, we just, at that point we sold it because we thought we were getting divorced. And I actually really like doing the winter ski rental because I come in, I'm there, I leave,

I don't have to think about it or worry about it. We're there five, six months out of the year. And what's the criticism? Like it's, you're supposed to own something. I think it's creepy. Isn't it like a lifestyle choice? I think it's really creepy And what's the criticism? Like it's, you know, you're supposed to own something. I think it's creepy. Like I said, I think it's really creepy. Like why does anyone care? We have multiple homes, we live in multiple cities.

Like who cares? Yeah. It's a great lifestyle. I love it. I live in hotels a lot too. It's really pretty fabulous. In fact, I prefer hotel living. What are they trying to get to the bottom to?

I don't know. I've been pretty honest about it from day one. I've never like said anything to the contrary. I think it's kind of fabulous, you know, a couple months in Europe in the summer and you know, a couple months in New York, a couple months in LA. Not so bad. What do you make of just kind of like what seems to be a Salt Lake City like Hollywood Awakening in a sense that obviously you ladies are crushing many, most of us, including me,

think Salt Lake City is the best housewives on TV right now. We'll take that, thank you. You have the Secret Lives of Mormon wives on Hulu that we got to interview them. Also very entertaining television show. I think Bravo's investing in a real estate show. Selling Salt Lake City or something, yeah.

Like what do you think is going on in Salt Lake City? What makes all of you so dynamic and interesting and why do you think everything that Salt Lake is putting out right now seems to be really working? Well, first of all, we're insane. Okay, let's start there. No. Utah is, you know, it's interesting because we

lived in Toronto for a little while shortly before we moved to Park City. And when I moved to Park City, I said Utah is culturally more different than the rest of the US than Toronto was. It's very different. It's hard to explain. I think part of it is just the influence of the church

and having such a heavy religious impact. And I don't know. It's culturally completely different than anywhere else I've ever lived. More so than Canada. I think that's why it's interesting. What's your soda drink? I don't drink soda. You're not putting coffee creamer in your Dr.

Pepper and pickle juice. No, I don't do those soda things. No, no, I'm a coffee girl. What do we want to wrap up with Meredith? We had, if we had one more question to ask you or. Oh my gosh, you're flipping this script on me. Well, we want to be respectful of your time, so we know you gotta get going.

I could probably talk to you for hours more, but you know, if, yeah, did we get out everything you wanted to get out or? I mean, I think we kinda covered most. Who was lying about Alibaba? What do you mean? Whitney, she didn't have proof about it. Like she had somebody who played 20 questions with her

and said that was proof. What do you mean? So and- Because remember it was like, it's someone, it was the like clue, it's the woman and the candle. Well, maybe I'm forgetting. My understanding of the Alibama, I was team Whitney at the time, maybe you can clear it up.

It just felt like my understanding of, a lot of you ladies have successful businesses, you know, bath bombs, I guess, you know, she did, bath bombs, I guess she did a bath bomb, I can see why that irritates you. But regardless, I didn't understand. I don't really care that much, but God. I didn't really understand, I don't even know if it was Lisa or whatever,

but the rumor that Whitney was doing something wrong because she was like repurposing, I don't know, stuff in Alibama, which seems to be my understanding, a lot of people, isn't that the playbook? I don't know. So I don't think, stuff in Ali Obama, which seems to be my understanding, a lot of people, that's kinda, isn't that the playbook? I don't know. Like. So I don't think that anyone was saying

Whitney was doing something wrong. So again, like you don't see the whole conversation, but the conversation that Lisa had with me was saying, I feel badly that this is blowing up on social media because it was, the presentation was not positive for Whitney the way it was being presented. And that was really it. We weren't actually discussing whether it was right

or wrong or in between. We were just saying we felt badly. How did that get turned into, from our standpoint, it being seemingly like Whitney was being shady. What do you mean? It would just seem like the accusation towards Whitney was that Whitney was, I don't know, doing something that she shouldn't be doing.

With her business? With her business. Oh, well, I don't think that was ever the issue because Whitney from day, this is what was weird to me. So from day one, when she first brought it up in this printer van, Whitney's like, I curate and it's on my website And that's how this came out on social media. They found it on my own website because I said I curated it

So if she says she curated it, there's absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever with what she's doing Like it's perfectly upfront and honest, but then why was it this whole issue of Lisa telling the blogs that she did it when she said it was from her own website to begin with? Okay. It made no sense. The whole thing made no sense to me. I was very confused.

No one was criticizing what she was doing because she flat out set it on her own website. So how could you criticize that? Right. You know? Where did you buy your bangs from? I forgot about those. I didn't.

I didn't. I had a hairstylist buy them for me. I think they look great. How is that hairstylist taking the reaction to your bangs? We haven't even talked about it. I loved it. I didn't mind it. I thought the whole thing was hysterical.

No, it's iconic. It was meant to be fun and funny, I haven't even talked about it. I mean, I didn't mind. I thought the whole thing was hysterical. No, it's iconic. It was meant to be fun and funny, and I think it was fun and funny. And if you didn't like it, I'm sorry. I was having fun. You committed. Yeah. How do you not show up with bangs?

It's Audrey Hepburn. Whatever. I will say, I went to the most insane Audrey Hepburn breakfast at Tiffany's holiday party last week. Oh my gosh. Was everyone wearing bangs? No, actually really people didn't really dress up so much. The host just didn't, a couple people did.

I didn't cause I had another holiday party after and I was like, I don't think I can do this. Right? Especially with the way the bangs went last time. But it was, it was so cute. It was so fun. It's such a good theme. How do we, we saw Mary's reaction to Lisa wearing the same outfit that she has worn?

Is that kind of like a no no in the Housewives? It's like I wore that first. You know, it's funny because that season I actually went to Paris for Fendi's Haute Couture show right after they released that jumpsuit. And there were at least a dozen people in there in that jumpsuit. And there were at least a dozen people in there in that jumpsuit. So I don't think it's that big of a deal. Like I think to each his own, you know, wear what makes you happy, do what you want.

Like I don't worry about what everyone else is wearing. I worry about what I'm wearing. I think my dad has this flannel. See, there you go. Are you gonna get mad? No, I'm not. I'm above it. Meredith has been so you go. Are you gonna get mad? No, not at all. Move above it. Meredith has been so much fun.

Thank you for coming. It's really been a pleasure. Before we let you go, can you give us one accent that people like to say is fake that I don't believe is fake? I think it is real. Oh my God, well then if I'm doing it, how can it be real?

Because then it's gonna be fake for sure. What's the, do you love an impression of yourself? You know what I'll give you on closing that you'll like? Can I do Lisa Barlow's outgoing voicemail because I'm obsessed and I literally like sometimes my kids are like, be quiet mom, because I won't stop doing it. Please.

We'll never tell you to be quiet. Okay, well thank you. I might stand here for hours now. They're like, no, you have to go. Okay, hi thank you. I might stand here for hours now. They're like, no, you have to go. Okay. Hi, you've reached Baby Gorgeous and I'm unavailable right now to take your call because I'm at the drive-thru.

John, John, tell them easy ice and a lemon. I need my diet coke, because I love that. Can I be honest? You almost like shape shifted into Lisa. You almost looked like Lisa. You even have her mannerisms down. It's very good.

You're a chameleon. Can we all? I was like, holy shit. Wow, I love Baby Gorgeous. Can Lisa to let me leave her outgoing voicemail, please? Hey, Baby Gorgeous. Do you like an impression of yourself? Yeah, I do like when someone does that.

Are you gonna do it? Oh my god. Oh no, Mary. The rumors and the nastiness. You wanna talk about the husbands? That's good. Very good. Thank you.

That was actually really good. Thank you. Thank you. I love you. Merida, so much fun. We appreciate you. You guys are amazing. Best of luck the rest of the way.

Are you definitely back next season? Well, I don't know. Is that your plan? I mean, I have to be asked. Sure. Are you anticipating being back next year? I'm hoping don't know. Is that your plan? I mean, I have to be asked. Sure. Are you anticipating being back next year? I'm hoping to be back next year. What a humble answer.

We are too. Thank you guys for listening. We thank Meredith for coming. Where can people follow you on that fun stuff? Bath bombs you wanna promote? Oh yeah, meredithmarx.com, meredithmarxcaviar.com, at meredithmarx on Instagram, at meredithmarx0 on Twitter.com, at meredithmarx on Instagram, at meredithmarx0 on Twitter.

Oh, and I had like some blue sky impersonator that I can't get down off blue sky. I'm the one that has like no followers and the fake one has all the followers. So. I feel like blue sky should allow you to take over those followers. I just learned about it.

Somebody like tweeted me and they're like, is this really you? I didn't even know anything. And I went on and I was like, oh my gosh. And then I discovered my whole cast was being, not whole, but most my cast was being impersonated. I sent a group text and they were like, what's blue sky? And I was like, you guys gotta get on there. You have people impersonating you. Go figure it out.

You should, you should take over those followers. All right, now we've got to go. All right. Bye Meredith. Bye.