Podcast Summary: Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz

Episode Title: Love Is LITERALLY Blind with Madison Maidenberg
Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Tom Schwartz
Guest: Madison Maidenberg (Love is Blind Season 9 cast member)

Episode Overview

Tom Schwartz welcomes Madison Maidenberg from the latest "Love is Blind" season for a candid, heartfelt, and often humorous conversation. The episode dives into the realities of finding love on TV, the nuances of self-growth under public scrutiny, and Madison’s unique journey as the show’s first visually impaired cast member. Expect deep insights into vulnerability, body image, friendship, healing, and the lessons reality TV can teach us—all seasoned with Tom and Madison’s irreverent, warm, and relatable banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life After "Love is Blind" — Madison’s Current State

• Timestamp: 08:43
  • Madison shares that she’s "doing really well" despite some online negativity:

    “Of course there’s a few trolls here and there, but in general, I’ve had so much love and support and really just taking the good with the bad and riding the wave right now.”
    — Madison (08:43)

  • Tom commends Madison for her resilience and humor.

2. Madison’s Career & Advocacy

• Timestamp: 09:07
  • Madison works as a UX/UI designer with a focus on marketing, and is President of the Foundation for Fighting Blindness.

3. On-Camera Vulnerability & Karaoke Bonding

• Their spirited 7-Eleven and karaoke hypotheticals lead to discussion about comfort foods, favorite karaoke songs (Fergalicious, ABBA), and must-have drinks (tequila shots):

  “You’re speaking my love language. How’d you know, Tom?”
  — Madison (10:02)

4. Representation: Love IS Literally Blind

• Timestamp: 13:07
  • Madison addresses her journey as a visually impaired contestant:

    “It’s kind of funny...I might be blind and Love is Blind, so let’s marry the two and see what we get.”
    — Madison (13:38)

  • She discusses why her participation is both fitting and overdue for the series.

5. Casting Process & True Motivations

• Timestamp: 14:23
  • Madison reveals the intense, months-long casting process and her introspective journey before joining:

    “You really are kind of getting in the mindset for a good amount of time of, like, what do I really want in a partner? What do I bring to the table?...A lot of mental preparation and kind of having to answer questions...I hadn’t thought about.”
    — Madison (14:23)

  • Tom applauds her authenticity and "pure soul" for participating for the right reasons.

6. Watching Herself on Screen

• Timestamp: 16:59
  • Madison describes watching herself back as “fully dissociating,” but says she’s grown to give herself grace.

    “I’ve really learned to...give myself grace. And, you know, I’ve had a year and a half to kind of heal and mentally prepare for this.”
    — Madison (16:59)

7. Friendships & Support System

• Timestamp: 18:49
  • Madison treasures friendships formed during the show, staying close to several cast members:

    “Some of my best friends have come from the show...some of the girls that you don’t get to see on the show, I’m also pretty good friends with.”
    — Madison (18:49)

8. Mexico Episode & Body Image Scrutiny

• Timestamp: 21:16
  • Tom and Madison discuss the difficult Mexico episode where her ex, Joe, made comments on Madison’s body.
  • Madison on public scrutiny of her body and relationship:

    “Add on top of that, somebody that you’re in a relationship with blowing the door wide open on the conversation about your body. It’s been difficult...humbling in some ways...really ground in myself and not let certain words carry the weight they used to.”
    — Madison (21:16)

  • She describes the pain and confusion of Joe’s comments about preferring “petite women.”

9. Reflecting on Heartbreak & Moving Forward

• Timestamp: 25:17
  • Madison explains she wasn’t truly blindsided by the breakup but felt let down after agreeing to “see the experiment through.”

    “I was still going through moments of like, oh, I don’t know, maybe I’m gonna say yes, maybe I’m not...So I think ultimately she followed her heart and I think that speaks well for her.”
    — Madison (33:26)

  • She discusses the desire for closure and why "when someone doesn't want to be with you, that's all you need to hear—even if it hurts."

    “I really dive in and stay in the deep end until I can’t anymore...I just didn’t [see the signs].”
    — Madison (26:47)

10. Lessons Learned & Intuition

• Timestamp: 34:32
  • Madison says the biggest lesson is trusting her intuition:

    “I’ve really learned that when the alarm bells go off, like, lean into that...I idealized him and our relationship far more than I should have, and that made me numb to what the reality was.”
    — Madison (34:32)

11. Post-Show Life & Reality TV Takeaways

• Favorite Reality Shows:

  • Traitors, Dancing with the Stars, Love is Blind (her own), waiting for new seasons.

• Advice for Future Contestants:

  “Get so grounded in yourself before you go on. Seriously, lean into who you know yourself to be and be immovable. Become a mountain and stand tall in that and you’ll be fine.”
  — Madison (37:06)

Notable Quotes

• On being the most “qualified” for Love is Blind:

  “I might be blind and Love is Blind, so let’s marry the two and see what we get.”
  — Madison (13:38)

• On heartbreak and not getting clear answers:

  “It freaking hurts when someone doesn’t choose you...can you give me some reason so I can help rationalize this and take inventory so I can be better next time?”
  — Tom Schwartz (26:12)

• On moving forward without closure:

  “Ultimately, when someone doesn’t want to be with you, that’s all you need to hear, right?...it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”
  — Tom Schwartz (26:47)

• On trusting her intuition:

  “When the alarm bells go off, like, lean into that. Don’t silence them.”
  — Madison (34:32)

• On advice for future "Love is Blind" hopefuls:

  “Get so grounded in yourself before you go on. Become a mountain and stand tall.”
  — Madison (37:06)

Memorable Moments & Fun Exchanges

• Tom and Madison bond over late-night snacks and ridiculous convenience store orders (10:17).
• Discussion of karaoke bravado and go-to songs (“Fergalicious,” “Dancing Queen”) (11:15).
• Tom admits nostalgia for frosted tips and 98 Degrees, while Madison references her sister’s 90s pop obsession (12:20).
• Madison’s dry retelling of a “paint color” joke with Joe exemplifies unscripted reality TV gold (29:30).
• Tom’s empathetic take on reality TV fatigue: “Watching yourself back...can be one of the most masochistic things. You can learn a lot, but it’s also torture.” (16:27)
• Both give grace to fellow cast members including Joe and Anton, emphasizing empathy and the distortions of reality TV editing (32:53, 34:07).
• Tom asks, “Would you say you were kind of blinded by love?” to which Madison responds, “I would say so, yeah.” (27:17)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 08:43 – Madison on coping with fame and trolls
• 13:38 – Madison reflects on her blindness and unique role on the show
• 14:23 – Love is Blind casting process and motivations
• 16:59 – The challenge of watching yourself on TV
• 18:49 – Real friendships and support from the cast
• 21:16 – Body image, Joe’s comments, and public scrutiny
• 25:17 – 26:47 – Heartbreak, closure, and learning from the breakup
• 34:32 – Lessons learned: intuition and self-worth
• 37:06 – Madison’s advice to future reality TV participants

Tone and Language

The episode is conversational, candid, and lightly self-deprecating—mixing vulnerability with dry humor, empathy, and positive energy. Both Tom and Madison keep things real while reflecting on deep emotional experiences, but never linger too long in heaviness—opting instead for connection, wit, and forward-looking insights.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful examination of love, loss, and growth filtered through the lens of reality TV—and some prime reality show gossip with no bitterness—this episode is a must-listen. Madison’s honesty and perspective offer hope, humor, and hard-won wisdom for anyone navigating tough transitions, public scrutiny, or their own search for harmony.