Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz

Episode: What Happens At BravoCon Does NOT Stay At BravoCon!
Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Tom Schwartz
Notable Guests: Lala Kent, Tom Sandoval, Denise Richards, Jesse Lally, Countess Luann, Brittany Cartwright, Luke, Zach, and more

Overview

This high-energy episode of Detox Retox is Tom Schwartz’s “audio diary” from BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Tom brings listeners behind the scenes for a frenetic, unfiltered peek at green room antics, cast anxieties, fan encounters, and moments of camaraderie among Bravo’s deeply beloved (and sometimes infamous) stars. Rather than hard-hitting interviews, Tom captures the festival’s “buzz” with a candid collection of mingled conversations, Real Housewives run-ins, and stories about the blurred lines between detoxing and retoxing—in true Schwartz fashion.

The theme: celebration, acceptance, resilience, and a little chaos. Instead of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” Tom reminds us that what happens at BravoCon absolutely gets spread everywhere.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. BravoCon Vibes and Schwartz's Return

• Tom reflects on the "dreamlike" energy of BravoCon, describing the Four Seasons buzzing with Bravo celebs and espresso martinis on day three.
• He shares his gratitude for getting another chance on Bravo, now as a cast member on The Valley:

  "Honestly, it was perfect. It was a dream, maybe a fever dream, but with the most positive connotation possible." (05:18)

• Panel nerves, fan love (“didn’t get booed!”), and the unique thrill of the event surface throughout.

2. Green Room Chronicles

• Highlights include stories of everyone letting loose, Whitney’s legendary trek to the porta potties on a “paper towel red carpet,” and gentle warnings about being overheard by fans and media.
• Schwartz:

  "By day three, everyone lets loose. They let their hair down, literally and figuratively…everyone gets sauced..." (05:44)

3. The Valley’s New/Old Cast Energy

• Lala Kent and Tom talk through joining The Valley from Vanderpump Rules:

  Lala: “Now we’re like the veterans that come into the show and it’s like, oh, wow, you’ve never started a show from season one either.” (12:56)

• They joke about possibly being booed and reflect on humility and second acts:

  Tom: “My second act is powered by all the stupid shit I did and learned from in my first act.” (14:22)

4. Fan Encounters & Starstruck Moments

• Interviews with Denise Richards, Brittany Cartwright, Jesse Lally, Luke, Zach, and more, reveal everyone’s awe at meeting icons, supportive fans, and Bravo’s family-like backstage spirit.
• Denise:

  "Without fans, we wouldn’t have jobs. So it’s fun to see how excited the fans are. Right?" (17:27)

5. Personal Triumphs and New Beginnings

• Sobriety and personal growth: Carl discusses almost five years sober and making bolder fashion choices:

  “As I’ve gotten older and sober, I invest actually in my clothing now… I wear it because it feels good.” (20:24)

• Tom Sandoval reflects on his AGT run, the healing power of music, navigating scandal, and the crowd’s reactions.
• Group recognition of humility—everyone acknowledges being “humbled in spectacular ways” before getting their “second act.”

6. Bravo’s Community & Social Dynamics

• "Retox" is celebrated as "not toxic, just enjoying yourself."
• Stern warnings about the power of the Bravo fandom:

  Lala: "Bravo fans are the best fans in the world… but if you betray them, hopefully they forgive you. But they don’t forget. They never forget." (12:40)

7. Vegas Stories: Highs, Lows, and Legendary Nights

• Anecdotes about lost winnings at the Golden Nugget, late-night antics, modeling convention memories, and “kissing your sister” (an old poker euphemism for breaking even).
• Tom and Sandoval reminisce:

  "I walked away and Tom kept playing and he lost everything… When you have a—when you’re up $1,000 and you’re broke… may as well be a million dollars." (72:47 – 74:32)

8. Music, Performance, and Hidden Talents

• Countess Luann talks cabaret, stage fright, fans, and possibly DJing:

  "Even Louis Vuitton makes mistakes." (77:35)

• Tom Sandoval shares about his stage antics and why he surrounds himself with “people who are better than me. Because they inspire me to be better.” (68:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Acceptance & Redemption:

  “I pretty much had accepted in my mind… that I wasn’t going to be on Bravo anymore. And now I’m on The Valley, and I didn’t get booed... People are really sweet.” – Tom Schwartz (07:12)

• On Bravo Fandom:

  “They forgive, but never forget. The opposite of what I practice.” – Lala Kent (12:40)

• Coping with Anxiety:

  “I was nervous a lot of the time because when you’re in the green room, you don’t want to… violate someone’s peaceful moment. I did the best I could…” – Tom Schwartz (82:05)

• On Humility:

  “We both been humbled in a spectacular way.” – Lala Kent (13:18)

• Vegas Highs & Lows:

  “I got to say, you slayed it… I was kind of marveling at your way with words. You…always eloquent, borderline poetic.” – Tom Schwartz to Jesse (22:04)

• Petty with a Purpose:

  “I feel like you normalize being petty and you made it okay.” – Tommy to Zach (37:10)
  Zach: “Well, I make it okay because it’s the truth when I say it. And being petty doesn’t mean I’m malicious…there’s a difference.”

• On the Value of Reality TV Honesty:

  Tom Sandoval: “To do it, you do have to bear your soul. Butt, ass, naked soul.” (43:20)
  Schwartz: “Every successful show… it’s because people have fully put everything out there.”

• Most Iconic AGT Reflection:

  Sandoval: "I'm not a singer. I was… you know what I'm saying?" (61:03)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Schwartz’s intro & overview, Vegas arrival:
  [01:00 – 10:00]
• Nerves ahead of The Valley panel, Lala & Tom banter:
  [12:10 – 13:45]
• Denise Richards Interview (“It’s like summer camp!”):
  [16:38 – 19:39]
• Fan power, first-timer energy with Jesse Lally, Vegas storytime:
  [21:28 – 26:41]
• Green room life, paper towels for Whitney’s feet:
  [56:00 – 58:01]
• Tom Sandoval on AGT, music, and scandal recovery:
  [60:04 – 71:49]
• Countess Luann on cabaret, DJing, and stage presence:
  [76:53 – 79:59]
• Schwartz’s closing flight reflection:
  [80:17 – 84:09]

Tone, Style & Flow

• Schwartz embraces a confessional, irreverently honest, sometimes self-deprecating tone.
• Guests switch between playful teasing, earnest support, and reflective appreciation.
• The episode rolls like chaotic green room banter—fast, unscripted, and affectionate, revealing the Bravo cast’s camaraderie and resilience.

For Listeners Who Missed It

• This episode is a must for Bravo fans and those curious about backstage realities.
• It’s not about shocking exclusives, but about the “imperfect, beautiful mess” of being in the Bravo family.
• Key takeaways: Even reality TV stars get nervous, love their fans, and are working on growth—even while retoxing with rooftop cocktails in Vegas.

Bonus: Fun Moments & Running Jokes

• “Kissing my sister”: a euphemism for breaking even, spawned a song on the spot.
• Schwartz’s ongoing anxiety about being booed, and Lala’s determination to milk it if it happens (“I’m a psycho. She wants to be booed!”).
• Teasing Dog Rescue metaphors (“I feel like an old rescue dog and I’ve been rescued…”).
• Tom Sandoval’s obsessive prop budget, full-drag flashbacks, and Sia stories.
• Zach and Schwartz’s mock rivalries over forgotten birthday posts and what it truly means to be petty.

Conclusion

BravoCon 2025 was a whirlwind for Tom Schwartz—a celebration of survival, reinvention, and friendship. The “detox retox” balance is never perfect, but in the Bravo universe, the mess is the magic. Schwartz leaves fans with gratitude, a little buzz, and the promise: The best is yet to come.

Notable Guests Featured

• Lala Kent
• Tom Sandoval
• Denise Richards
• Jesse Lally
• Countess Luann
• Brittany Cartwright
• Luke
• Zach

(Episode skips advertisements, focusing on content-rich, candid moments and rapport between cast members.)