Podcast 227: RHOSLC: We’re crying; We see Erin vs. Jessel differently; The Next Gen kids are alright

B and Amanda are still wiping their eyes after The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's season 7 premiere, which pays emotional tribute to Mary Cosby's late son Robert Jr. Then it's on to RHONY, where a Love Story-themed brunch turns tense between Jessel Taank and Erin Lichy, plus casting buzz about Dorothy Wang and Devin Simone joining the cast. They close out with the Next Gen NYC finale, including new sparks between Ariana Biermann and Liam.

Topics Discussed

• RHOSLC Season Premiere: Mary Cosby Honors Robert Jr. — Mary's castmates rally around her after the loss of her son.
• Whitney Rose's Pickleball Look and Sobriety Hints — A bold pickleball fit and hints she's cutting back on drinking.
• Lisa Barlow and John's On-Camera Apology — Staged, genuine, or both?
• Braunwyn Windham-Burke's Divorce and Mystery New Boyfriend — Plus an anonymous tip about her new man.
• RHONY Brunch Fallout: Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy and the Kennedy Curse Comment — A brunch meant to celebrate Sai gets tense fast.
• Martha Stewart's Glam Squad: Daisy Toye's On-Call Life — What it's really like being Martha's go-to makeup artist.
• RHONY Casting Buzz: Dorothy Wang and Devin Simone Circle 2027 — An anonymous tip on who could join next season.
• Next Gen NYC Finale: Ariana, Liam, Charlie and Georgia's Future — New romance rumors and reunion tension.

Mentioned in This Episode

Mary Cosby (read her marriage update here), the RHOSLC season 7 cast (see what they do for a living), Whitney Rose, Lisa Barlow, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy, Sai De Silva, Carole Radziwill (who made a bold promise about season 16), Daisy Toye and Martha Stewart (read more on their dynamic), Dorothy Wang (see the earlier casting speculation), Devin Simone, Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo (on their new $140 million Giggly Squad deal), and the Next Gen NYC cast (including Charlie Zakkour's reunion bombshell).

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RHOSLC Season Premiere: Mary Cosby Honors Robert Jr.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 7 premiere had both hosts in tears. B and Amanda admit they were bawling watching the episode, which opens with Mary Cosby's cousin picking her son Robert Jr. up after a brief prison stay, then jumps three weeks later to reveal he had passed away. The episode shows Heather, Whitney, Lisa, Braunwyn and Meredith rallying around Mary — notably without Brittany, who the hosts joked they were relieved wasn't in the episode given her rockier history with Mary.

The moment that hit hardest for both hosts: Mary, who had taken a three-week break before returning to filming, talking to Robert Jr.'s dog in his bedroom because the dog wouldn't leave his room. "There's no words," one host said, calling it the most unnatural thing in the world for a parent to lose a child. In her confessional, Mary thanked each of the women individually — telling Meredith she's always known what to say, and Lisa that she'd been sending groceries and care packages — before looking at the camera and saying, "God gave me a family," meaning her castmates.

Both hosts pointed out how pointed that line was, given Mary is estranged from her own siblings, who didn't reach out after Robert Jr.'s death. "I find that horrifying," one host said, adding that how people react to tragedy says a lot about who they really are. The other called it possibly the most impactful episode in Real Housewives history, saying Mary's ability to guide her friends and family through the loss reflects the same spiritual, pastoral presence she's always brought to the show.

Whitney Rose's Pickleball Look and Sobriety Hints

Whitney Rose's hot pink velour pickleball fit sent both hosts down a 2000s nostalgia trip. One host admitted she "kind of liked it" and that she and her husband met while both wearing matching velour tracksuits; the other confessed she's never owned one in her life.

On a more serious note, the hosts flagged Whitney repeatedly saying alcohol "isn't serving her" this season without ever confirming she's given up drinking entirely. They read it as a possible storyline rather than sobriety, pointing to insider info that Bravo was unhappy with how visibly drunk Whitney was on stage at BravoCon right before filming a drag brunch. "It was just so messy and publicized everywhere," one host said, calling it "a save face thing." Whitney also never confirms on camera that she and her husband are separated or divorcing, though she hints at trouble.

Lisa Barlow and John's On-Camera Apology

B and Amanda both think Lisa Barlow and her husband John's on-camera apology scene was likely planned — but still landed as genuine. "Do I think that Lisa requested he do that on camera? Yeah, 100%," one host said, while the other agreed it "seemed rehearsed" but sincere. They noted John's rougher moments last season weren't typical of him as a husband, and wondered whether he simply grew more comfortable speaking his mind once the cameras were rolling than he would privately.

Despite the friction, both hosts believe the Barlows are one of the most devoted Housewife couples on television and predicted they'll stay together, especially after Lisa opened up about how it felt not to feel heard by John and how she'd even briefly considered ending the relationship.

Braunwyn Windham-Burke's Divorce and Mystery New Boyfriend

Braunwyn Windham-Burke is shown unpacking and talking about her split from Todd, plus her since-ended relationship with boyfriend Brandon Goode — a breakup the hosts believe was messy, based on Braunwyn's snarky response when asked about him on Watch What Happens Live.

One host shared an anonymous tip sent to the site alleging Braunwyn has since been spotted hugging and kissing a new man who is reportedly "married with a kid" and works as a manager at two prominent New York City restaurants. The anonymous source called him "a disgusting, disgusting serial cheater." Neither claim is confirmed, and the hosts noted Braunwyn herself is technically still married, so any new relationship carries its own complications. They also praised Braunwyn's mother, Muzzy, for staying supportive of her daughter even while disapproving of the situation.

RHONY Brunch Fallout: Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy and the Kennedy Curse Comment

At a Love Story-themed brunch meant to celebrate and cheer up Sai De Silva, Jessel Taank asked Carole Radziwill — who was cousins by marriage to JFK Jr. and lost her own husband to cancer at a young age — whether her late best friend was "a bitch" and whether the Kennedy family is cursed. Both hosts called the moment tone-deaf at best and cruel at worst. "You kind of wanna just grab her by the shoulders and be like, 'Wake up,'" one host said.

The hosts also flagged Erin Lichy apologizing to Jessel for talking about her behind her back, then turning around minutes later and calling Jessel a "clout chaser" in front of Daisy. "That is just mean," one host said. Still, both said they like Erin overall and think her bluntness, while sometimes off-putting, comes from an honest place. They also noted newer cast member Erika appears to be channeling a bit of Paige DeSorbo's energy, which they meant as a compliment.

Martha Stewart's Glam Squad: Daisy Toye's On-Call Life

Daisy Toye — Martha Stewart's longtime makeup artist and a member of the RHONY friend group — is shown bickering with her husband Eugene, who's frustrated that she can't commit to a date night because she's always on call for Martha. Both hosts largely sided with Daisy, comparing her situation to any service-industry job: if you say no when a client calls, you risk getting replaced. "You say no to Martha, and especially Martha's personality, you're done," one host said.

The hosts guessed Daisy's retainer from Martha is likely in the $300,000-a-year range, possibly with health insurance included, given how central her image is to Martha's brand. They said they'd love to hear from any listeners who actually work in the beauty or personal-services industry about how these kinds of on-call arrangements typically work.

RHONY Casting Buzz: Dorothy Wang and Devin Simone Circle 2027

The hosts read an anonymous tip submitted to BravoandCocktails.com claiming Bravo wants to "stack" the RHONY cast further so it doesn't need a reboot if any current Housewife decides to leave. According to the tip, Real World: Brooklyn and The Challenge alum Devin Simone is being upgraded from guest to "friend of," and Bling Empire's Dorothy Wang is reportedly joining full-time for the show's 2027 filming, with a bigger budget expected thanks to strong ratings this season.

The hosts couldn't confirm the Dorothy Wang casting through their own sources, but noted her name has circled RHONY since the reboot first cast, and that she's no stranger to reality TV between the original Bling Empire and its New York spinoff. They also pointed out how unusual it is that the current cast already includes a billionaire in Erika, comparing her financial tier to the earlier Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof, and wondered aloud whether Bravo is angling to phase out cast members like Jessel and Erin in favor of wealthier newcomers.

Next Gen NYC Finale: Ariana, Liam, Charlie and Georgia's Future

On the Next Gen NYC finale, Ariana Biermann confirmed she's currently single after an on-and-off situation with Hudson — and the hosts noted she and Liam were spotted hugging and kissing at a New York Fashion Week party that same week. Both hosts like Liam more than they expected to, though one said she still doesn't find him personally attractive.

They also discussed Charlie Zakkour, who one host said is starting to come across as "vicious" rather than charming at the reunion, and Ava's dynamic with Kyle Cooke after Georgia Layne implied Ava kissed Kyle for "social status or financial gain." Both hosts defended Ava, arguing Kyle's appeal is more about reality-TV mentorship than money, especially since Ava is already a cast member in her own right.

On Georgia herself, the hosts said she brings a deliberately contrarian, shock-value energy to the cast and doesn't seem to have close friends among the group, though Gia has stood up for her. Finally, they floated a theory on the ongoing tension between Riley Burruss and Ariana Biermann: that Riley, as Kandi Burruss's daughter, is used to being catered to and hasn't yet learned that real friends treat each other as equals — something the hosts expect she'll grow out of as she gets older.