Loading summary
A
What if a marginal gain unlocked greater performance?
B
What if an insight in data could change everything?
A
At Aramco, our focus on detail helps
B
us deliver reliable energy to millions across the world. Because margins aren't marginal, they're where we can truly push the limits of what's possible. Aramco, an integrated energy and chemicals company. Learn more@aramco.com you're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions, and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings by $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.
C
Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But Aura goes beyond data protection. With one app you get a vpn, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, Dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24. 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or even just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today@aura.com safety protect yourself now@aura.com safety
A
this episode is brought to you by Hint Water. I need to tell you about something that has completely taken over my life. Started innocently, one sip and then suddenly I was thinking about it. Constantly craving it, longing for it, asking myself, what is this feeling, this completely unhinged desire to drink water. Specifically Hint Water. I tried the peach raspberry flavor and honestly, it rewired something in me. The second it touched my lips, I ascended it Was it was subtle, juicy, refreshing. Like my body finally understood what hydration was supposed to feel like. Just crisp water with this delicate little whisper of fruit that makes your brain go, wait, more of that immediately. And the dangerous part, it has no sugar, no sweeteners and no calories. It's literally just water infused with fruit essence. That's it. Somehow it tastes like a treat while technically being responsible behavior. So, yeah, I've been seduced by water. Hint. Has no sugar, no sweeteners and no calories. Just water with fruit essences. Water that makes you crave water. Try Hint. Now available online@drinkhint.com and in stores nationwide. Mmm. Water.
C
What could she possibly have done to
A
make you piss off about a synthetic wig? It was nothing about what had happened. I didn't like the way you were
C
talking to her, so I said something.
A
Exactly. And you don't have. And you don't have that right to. Cause I did it. She does. The vibe that I get from Dani
C
and Nia feels suffocating to me. I think there's a lot that's pushed under the rug and I feel so badly for her.
A
Woo. Hello, everyone. Welcome to everything Iconic with me, Danny Pellegrino. That was a clip from this week's episode of the Valley. It's episode eight. It's called Misbehavior. They're really leaning into the mis thing, right? It was mis triggered. Misbehavior. Ready for someone to start singing Mis independent on the show. I actually think this was the best episode so far this season. That's right. Although it was an infuriating episode because everything regarding Daniel and Nia is tough to watch and I don't like watching it. I. I am with Lala when she says it's tough to see him yelling at her and talking to her that way. And then even with the hot mic moments, I'm thinking, how is he talking to her off camera when they're saying, get the mic off me, get the mic off me. And then I don't know if you know this, but Daniel was supposed to be on Watch what happens live after the Valley episode. Now, I'm of course recording this beforehand, but he was supposed to be on after this week's episode of the Valley. And then suspiciously, all of a sudden, the Bravo account started releasing information that it was actually going to be Luke and Tom Schwartz on. So Danny back out at the last minute and then Daniel posted on his social media page that he had booked something else or had a last minute booking on something And I think that's a bag of bullshit. Because after watching this episode, I'm like, oh, he definitely got skittish and said, absolutely, I'm not going to be doing this episode of Watch what Happens Live where they're going to be confronting me about my bad behavior and the way that I'm talking to my wife. So I think he did back out and then was trying to make it seem like he booked some other job or whatever. I was like, that's a lie. Call me crazy, but I think that's a bag of bullshit. And he better go on Watch what Happens Live and answer for this, because this is your job. You're on a reality TV show, and you shouldn't have gone on the reality TV show if you didn't want to answer for your way you speak on reality television. So, anyway, I'm livid, and I'm livid at that, man, for multiple reasons. And let me tell you something, actually, whenever I record the podcast, a lot of times I record it and I put it out online and I sometimes go to bed after I put it out and I think like, oh, I hope I didn't say anything bad or that could be misconstrued. You know, that happens quite often is somebody. I'll take something out of context or say, why did you say that? Or. Or say, why were you so hard on these people? And I ultimately want this to be a haha he podcast. I want everyone to come to the Everything Iconic, have some laughs, talk about our favorite shows, our stories, and keep it in our sister circle. However, I leave the podcasts, I put it out online and sometimes I think, like, I hope I wasn't too mean to them or said anything that I shouldn't have said or went too hard on this person or that person. And it'll keep me up at night sometimes thinking, I hope I didn't say anything too bad about that person. And even last week on the podcast, despite the fact that Daniel was such a nightmare on the show to Nia, I still felt a little tinge of bad. I was like, oh, was I too tough? Whatever. And ultimately I watched this episode and I was like, I could have been harder on that man because now I'm seeing the rest of it play out from that night when they had to do drag for the Miss Congeniality or whatever the fuck they were calling that contest they were doing where they were all dressed up in Dragon. I did feel bad for Jesse for not winning. Like, I don't know, I felt like he should Just he was getting so into, like, the drag of it all. I mean, when he was getting his glam done, he was in heaven. Just seeing Lacey was like, putting on that wig and he had the shoes and the heel and he looked so at peace. More than I've ever seen. Jesse Lally was at peace before was when he was just getting his drag done. And so I thought that maybe he should have deserved some sort of prize for that. However, seeing the continuation, because last week had ended on to be continued, and then seeing the continuation of it this week with Daniel, I was like, actually, maybe we should have all been a little tougher on him. And I know a lot of people were tough on him. And this is the other reason why I'm pissed at him. Brings me to my other point, is that over the past week, I've gotten so many messages from people who think that I'm Danny from the Valley and I'm not you guys. I've gotten upwards of six messages on social media platforms and people. The one person had been commenting on, like, every one of my Instagram posts about, like, how I treat my wife Nia. And then I blocked that person because I was like, I'm not that person. I'm not Danny from the Valley. Valley. Okay, I do live in the Valley and my name is Danny, but I'm not married to Nia. I do not have four under four or whatever the fuck. And so that's not me. But I blocked this person. Then I was getting messages like, you're deleting all the comments. It's like, no, I actually just blocked the person. But every. People are like, thinking, I'm that person. Then I got this, like, crazy dm, like, I'm talking, like, very long story, very long story about how awful how I. I'm an alcoholic and how I talk poorly to my wife and everything. And then at the end of it, it was like, oh, I just realized now that this is not Danny Buco. I got the wrong one. I'm so sorry. It said hello, but that's the kind of messages I'm getting this week. It's crazy to me. It's crazy to me. But so obviously we need to give Daniel hell. But not maybe not on. Maybe let's let Andy give him the hell. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, don't give me the messages. Don't send messages at me because I'm not Danny. So if you have to send messages to someone, just don't send them to me. Send them to the other person you're mad at, not me, because I'm getting way too many. And I guess it's because my. I think because my profile picture is me at Watch what Happens Live. And so you people maybe search Danny, and then they see the. The backdrop of Watch what Happens Live. They're like, that's Danny from the Valley. Anyway, it's been making my life hell this past week. And so just have to say, careful. If you are sending angry messages to the reality TV people that you watch, just make sure you get the right ones and don't send them to me, because I don't want it. Okay. So we open this week on footage of Daniel being a nightmare. Everyone's getting ready. Daniel calls Lala. Ms. Triggered Daniel. I think he wants. He's sort of wanting the Lala smoke. And we all know that you don't want the Lala smoke, because she will pop, pop, pop, pop. And Jesse is over there in the corner, loving the drag with Lacy. It's like he's in a spa, actually. Jesse Lally. And I love that because the other ones are fight. Lala's telling Danny and Nia telling them off. And Jesse's just got the hooves out, just getting his toes painted and a wig on and all that kind of stuff. The rouge on his face, some blush, mascara, and he's happy as a clam. But Lala says in her confessional the Nia and Danny vibe is suffocating. And I kind of feel that, too. I do. I don't think I want them on the show anymore. I just. I just. As an audience member, I find them very difficult to watch. I almost get anxiety or something seeing the way he talks to her and seeing the way that she so calmly tries to explain how she's feeling. And then he tries to turn it around and say, like, why are you talking to me like that? I'm like, I can't watch this because I know the term gaslighting is overused, but it does sort of feel like I don't. I hope I'm not using the term wrong, but it does sort of feel like when she's calmly saying, like, hey, Daniel, I just want to have a really good time. And he's like, stop talking to me like that. Like, what do you mean? What. How is she talking to you? Like, you're the one talking to her in a certain way. So it's like, very. It makes me. Obviously, there's different reasons to get these people off these shows, but that's a reason for me as an Audience member. I find it very anxiety inducing to watch the two of them talk just as a married couple. And then I don't like to be in their house in Santa Clarita. Like, I find it all very uncomfortable. Very anxiety inducing. And if you listen to. I did a recap of Summer House finale and the in the City premiere. And I mentioned on there that I found the in the City premiere to be a little more aspirational than the Valley because I think they're very clear comps because they're both spin offs of other shows and they're both around the same age, cast members, where it's like the next phase of life. They're starting to have kids and stuff. But the in the City, they have like, chica apartments. I'm not dealing with, like a lot of word art when I see it or having to go to Santa Clarita. And so I would like the valet to just get a little bit. A little. I think they. If they got rid of the Danny and Nia, it might feel more comfortable to me. And I want the best for Nia. I truly do. Because I feel like watching her, she's. She's not reacting in the same way as him. And she's even trying to say in that clip that I played at the beginning of the episode where she's like telling Daniel to listen to Lala. It's like she's even siding with Lala and she's trying to get her husband to like, see how he's acting and talking to her and everything like that. So it's. She's trying to say, daniel, listen, like, look at. Other people are seeing this, not just me. And he's not getting it. And I, I don't know, I find it very. The term Lala used was suffocating and I find it anxiety inducing. But then Zach walks in. It's funny too, because all these men are in drag and Zach walks in with just like lipstick on. He didn't even have the wig or the boobies on. He just walked in. He just walked in. He's like, what's going on? And. And the way he looked was insane to me. But Lala is like, I'm so pissed at Danny. Like, she calls him Polly Pocket. And he's a short man. And I'm also. I love a short king, but not that one. Not that man. But I'm also noticing he's got, like, very. I'm noticing his, like, dyed jet black hair. And I'm not saying you shouldn't dye your Hair. Like men, if they want to dye your hair, dye your hair. I like a salt and pepper sometimes, but everyone's got their own thing. And I'm not here to shame anybody, but I would just like when he goes to his next Great Clips appointment or wherever the fuck he's going. I would just hope that maybe they can they do a different. Because I'm noticing now it's like sticking out to me that the jet black hair. And maybe it's. Maybe he used an at home or something. Again, totally fine if you do that. But maybe just we could do a lighter color or something because it's a little distracting to me now, and I wouldn't normally call that out. However, I'm finding him to be a bit of a demon on the show, so I feel like I could call out his bad dye job. Moving on. Luke is shaving his back. Was Luke shaving his back? Somebody was shaving Luke's back. And that made me laugh. Like, for this competition, it was like somebody was shaving the shaving Luke's back. I don't know if it was him or what. Meanwhile, Schwartz is in his drag, and he's still the ugliest woman I've ever seen. Like, how is Schwartz? I think Kristin might have pointed out what a beautiful man he is. And like, no matter what, I can't say that Schwartz isn't very pretty. Like, he can look sometimes not as put together as I would like him. He's never wearing shoes and socks, and I would love for someone to get in there and style him a little bit better. Although the past few years, he has been styled better because there was a time in Vanderpump Rules where he was wearing those Moo Moos, and it was like, somebody needs to call up a stylist immediately for Schwartz. I don't care who's got to pay the bill, but I thought somebody at Bravo HQ is gonna have to pay his bill for a stylus. And then it seemed like it started to get better. And so but even at his, like, schlubbiest. Is that a word? Even at that. That sort of least put together, I find that Schwartz, you can tell that he was a male model because he's got, like, pretty features and stuff like that. But then for some reason, when he's dressed in drag, he's the ugliest woman ever. And so, like, what is that about? Because I would think with, like, such pretty features. He's pretty. He's pretty. You know what? I just was seeing a plastic surgeon Say it might have been Harry or Dubrow. What's his name? Terry. Terry Dubrow from the Real House of Orange County. I think I saw a TikTok clip of him. And he was saying, you know how a lot of these men are having, like, the bleph surgery and stuff, and they look totally different. People, like, I don't even want to say their names because I don't know what they had exactly done. Cough. Bradley Cooper, cough. Or Adam Levine showing up in red carpets. Like, these men are starting to look a little bit different. Which. God bless. Do whatever you want to do. But he was saying that one of the reasons why it's so shocking for some of them is, like, the prettier the man. So someone like Rob Lowe, he said, can get any sort of plastic surgery they want because they have very feminine features. So the audience is used to seeing them with the feminine features, and they're very pretty. And so they're able to kind of do different plastic surgeries than other men who are maybe looked at as a little more rugged. Then it's a bit of more shock to the system when they do these surgeries, like the bluff surgeries or stuff like that. And so that was interesting to me. That was interesting to me. Although I gotta say, Schwartz has those pretty features, I think. So I would imagine that he could do whatever he wants, but should still look pretty in drag. But for some reason, he just looks so ugly. He looks so ugly. And what was this glass? I don't know who picked out his drag outfit, but it was. It was rough. Meanwhile, they're still getting ready for this competition. And Mia's like, I can tell you're shifting energy. And Daniel's like, don't talk to me like that. And it's like, how is she talking to you? Like you're. She's just telling you your energy's shifting. And she keeps telling him, like, I feel uncomfortable. And then she walks away. I don't know. Did you guys hear Jasmine say that Jesse's giving Anna Nicole. And I know we mentioned this in previous recaps of the Valley, but Jesse has a connection to Anna Cole Smith, and may she rest in peace. But I don't know if they dated or were friends or something, but there's pictures of Jesse from years and years ago with Anna Nicole Smith. And so when Jasmine said her name, I thought we were going to get a little more information or maybe a flashback photo of him and Anna and Nicole Smith, but I don't know if he ever actually discussed it. But I would like more information on it. So then we have this competition of all these guys, Zach should have won and technically did win. And I do have a lot to complain about when it comes to this drag competition because Daniel's not in the top two. He's pissed. He shouldn't even been in the top two. He should actually be in dead last because he's a nightmare. But Nia says Zach wins, but then it was like a moonlight La La land situation where they were like, no, you got it wrong, Nia. And then it was actually, what's his name? Luke won. And this is a larger issue because straight men always have to be centered. Even though he clearly lost. Like, I'm sorry, none of those straight men. The only reason that Luke would have won, in my eyes, is because they were like, giving him extra points because he's like a masculine straight man. Whereas Zach looked the best in drag. Way more put together. He had the bubbies, gorgeous lipstick, shaved, didn't have scruff or anything. Like, I thought that Zach definitely won this competition, but then it was like, oh, we have to have one of these other men win because Zach's the gay one. And I felt that was a little homophobic. So sorry. I thought Zach should have won the drag competition, but it was nice to see Zach pull Janet into his tits. You know what I'm saying? It was like a nice moment in those fake bubbies that he was wearing. He just pulled her in and they were like having a hahaheehee. And Kristen was like, sort of side eyeing from the corner. But I was like, yeah, Zach and Janet, like, just become friends. Like, just be friends. And I'm. I'm feeling like Janet's having finally a good season. I've said forever that, like, Janet's got to have a good season eventually. And I, Although I know everybody hates Janet, I get it. I think a lot of people are coming around and saying, like, actually, Janet was right about Daniel and. And maybe she's not so bad. And so I'm proud of Janet for having a good season finally. She's my Ohio sister. You know, I root from people for people from Ohio, and so I have no choice. But I'm a Midwest at heart, and so I'm rooting for Janet. I'm happy she's having a good. But I wish, like, it would be fun if, like, her and Kristen and Zach could get along. And I bet you that would happen. My prediction, that's very early prediction, but my prediction is that next season they will get rid of Dani and Nia. And then Janet and Kristen and Zach could be friends again. Because it'll be, you know, they'll need a separate. They'll need different allies in the show. And so then I think that could finally happen and then bring in some new people. This could be good. It could be good. But Daniel's drunk and annoying, spreading his legs and like, showing off. And like, nobody wants to see that. Everybody's like, stop it. Even her. His wife is saying, stop spreading your legs. Then they go outside, they sit down, and he is trying to talk to Daniel, but he won't listen. And he is such a. He has such a classic. Just from viewing these episodes, not knowing him in real life or personally, but viewing these episodes, it feels like such a classic Napoleon complex that he has. And Nia says he didn't listen and wants to check in. She wants to check in with him. And he's like, you know me, I'm super competitive. And it's like, you're competitive with this fun drag night that your wife planned. She's trying to have a good time. She's mentioned a hundred times to you. Like, I just want to have fun. She keeps saying. And that breaks my heart every time she says, like, I just want to have a lot of fun. I just thought we could have some fun. Let's have some fun. The kids are asleep finally. And then Daniel starts talking about Lala and Randall. Like, he sort of brings up Randall and Nia's like trying to stop him because she keeps doing this thing where she doesn't want the camera to pick up his real personality. And if any, if anyone, that's the other anxiety inducing thing is like, I'm watching Nia constantly try to protect him on camera. And I'm not saying he's like, I'm not saying he's like abusive or, you know, I'm not trying to use any of those really intense terms because I don't know what happens behind closed doors. So I just want to make that clear. But he does. She is trying to present a different version of him on camera than what we're seeing. And so she's trying to constantly cover for him. And it's very uncomfortable. And it's like, maybe you guys should not be on reality tv. Like, if you don't, if you don't want to be real on reality, that's fine. I totally get that. But like, get off reality tv. And the camera is picking up what he's showing us. Like, the audience is seeing this man be like, this. And so she's trying to control it, and it makes me all very uncomfortable. And he says, she's raising her voice. And that was what I was like, come on, you're not raising your voice. And he has no one to blame. If they do fire him from the show or kick him off the show, he has no one to blame because he's the little jerk that's. He's the little jerk that did it. Look what you did, you little jerk. Anyway, Lala goes and chats with Janet and the other gals, and she's like, janet, you were onto something. And so Janet's vindicated, I think, and it comes to Daniel. Maybe she shouldn't have used that. I think the big thing that people hate Janet for is that she's. She was against Daniel, but then stuck up for Jax. And I think that's the trouble, you know, I think that's the trouble. Lala says he struggles with the little man syndrome, and he has to show, like, their relationship. Him and Niart's relationship is rooted in faith, where the man has to be the king and the woman's there to support, which was fascinating to hear her say that. And, look, religion's an interesting thing. It's interesting the way that it causes relationships to have these power dynamics and power shifts. And it's very. When you kind of take a step back, you look at it, you're like, oh, that's kind of not right. Right. But I just want all my gals to just be. You should. I don't think my personal opinion is I don't think that a man should just be the one in charge of things. And then the woman's supposed to be there to support. And I understand different relationships have different roles in the relationship, and that's okay to me, but I don't. Like when. I don't know, I just hate this Daniel man. Meanwhile, Daniel's not even listening. He's like, give me a break. And Nia's like, well, I feel like you're being really dismissive. How about just apologize? And then, meanwhile, Michelle says they've all heard stuff about Danny and they all pretend it doesn't exist because Michelle says everyone destroyed Janet for having an opinion, and so nobody wants to have an opinion. So they're kind of breaking the fourth wall a little bit here and saying, like, yet we all know that Daniel's a nuisance, but we don't want the audience to turn against us the way they turn on Janet for turning against him, you know, and for some Reason the past couple of years, like, everybody was kind of defending Mia and Danny, and I think they were mostly defending Nia. Like, I don't know if they were defending what's his name, Danny. He does get a beer, though, and he throws the wig and goes inside. Meanwhile, Zach's on the table just, like, laying down with his bubbies out. And. And then this is when Nia goes up to Daniel and say, do you want me to help get your heels out? I gotta take your makeup off. Indiana's like, I can't believe you said that. And she's like, I miked your mic. And there. And this is whole, like this moment when they're walking in the backyard, they're chasing each other, and they're like, take off the mics. Take off the mics. I got the chills. I got the chills. You guys. Let's take a break, and we're gonna talk all about this mic moment. Take off the mic. Take it off. Let's take. Let's take a break, and I will leave all the gals with this. You should go and love yourself, girl. That's for you, Nia. You love yourself. And I want to thank a cast. We'll be right back. Why limit your favorite fragrance to just one room? With Pura, you can build a whole home scenting system that moves with your day. Love it. Put a Pura Home next to your bed, a Pura Home plus in your open living room, and a Pura Home mini in the bathroom, controlling them all seamlessly from the app. One home, one connected fragrance experience. Visit pura.com wholehome to get started. Lately, I've been trying to simplify getting dressed. Not in a dramatic way, just fewer decisions. I want things I could throw on and know they'll work without having to stand in front of the closet spiraling. That's why I've been reaching for quints quite a lot lately. Their stuff just makes sense. I picked up one of their linen shirts recently. Great for this weather. It's been in constant rotation. Lightweight, breathable, really comfortable, and still looks really put together, like I made an effort. They've got all the spring staples. Linen shorts and shirts, really soft prima cotton tees and pants that hit that perfect middle ground for where they're relaxed but still polished and to wear out to a fancy restaurant. And what really got me is the price. Everything is about 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. So you're getting really good materials without paying for the markup. For me, it just makes getting dressed easier. I think Quince is fantastic and I really love all the pieces from there. Truly. So refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use head to quince.com iconic for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Quince Q-U-I-N-C-E.com iconic for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com iconic all right, you know I love the idea of finding a great deal, but I don't always have the patience to dig for it. Which is why I got into Whatnot. Now I fully get the hype. Whatnot is a live shopping app where you can find deals on fashion, beauty, bags, jewelry and so much more. I even got some of my holiday villages this year off of Whatnot and I'm so excited about it. Everything happens in real time. It's actually fun because you' watching sellers live, seeing items up close, asking questions in the chat, and grabbing things as they go. I recently had a moment. I picked up a pair of Lululemon leggings for about $25 a gift. I grabbed a vintage Coach bag for around $60 as a gift for a friend and found some name brand beauty products for under $15 each. Everything felt curated, like the sellers actually care about what they're showing. And that's the thing, you almost never pay full price on Whatnot. There are over 10,000 fashion, beauty and bag sellers going live, so there's always something new to discover and it feels like connecting with people who are into the same things, sharing finds and getting excited about the deals together. So if you want to check it out like I've been using it, which is so fun and so great because you get great deals. Download the Whatnot app today and get free shipping on your first order. Just search Whatnot W h a t N o t Whatnot in the App Store and start scoring amazing deals. Now I've realized recently that I'll do anything to improve my sleep. I love getting in bed. I've looked into blackout curtains, supplements, new pillows and suddenly it becomes this whole production. But then I realized the thing that really needs upgrading in bed is the stuff that you're sleeping in and on every night. Which is why I switched to bowl and branch. Now before my sheets were okay, they were starting to feel worn out, kind of rough, not as soft as they used to be. My bed just didn't feel like that. It was inviting at the end of the day. And once I switched, it was one of those immediate differences. The sheets are incredibly soft, breathable, and just feel better the second you slip into bed. I started with their signature sheets and then I added the waffle blanket, which I've talked about before. I love the waffle blanket, especially during the summer months. It's great. In place of a comforter, it made the whole bed feel complete. It's that hotel level feeling, but at home, cooler, more comfortable, and honestly, just nicer to sleep in. The more I've used them, the softer they've gotten, which I didn't even know was possible. It's one of those upgrades where you don't realize how much it matters until you do it. So upgrade your sleep with bole and branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at bolandbranch.com everythingiconic with code everything iconic. That's Boland branch B O L L A N D branch.com everythingiconic and use code everythingiconic at checkout. All one word to unlock 15% off. Exclusions apply. And we're back. All right, so Nia and Daniel are chasing each other outside. And this is when Daniel's like, nia, take off your mic. Take off your mic. Which was so uncomfortable. And Daniel said, I would never say that to you. And he is like, okay, I hear you. Like, she's being so calm, cool, and collected. And I think most of us in a situation like that, we would have been like, I would have been Tamara Judge. Or remember when she was in the backseat of that limo and she's like, I want a divorce. I want a divorce. You. You. I feel like that's how I would have been in that moment if. And I know everybody was drinking, they were having a good time, but it's like, how many times can we see the same behavior from their relationship? Like, it's actually very troubling to watch because you might have forgotten because of all the Jack stuff. But if you go back and watch the first two seasons of the show, there was, like, multiple moments like this with Daniel and Nia. And we've seen it. Like, I'm not even talking about, like, the hearsay of he did this with Jasmine or whatever with Janet. You know, like, there were all that hearsay stuff. I'm saying we've, like, seen this behavior from our own eyes of Daniel and Nia in the past, but we were also distracted by the Jack steam and stuff that it was. We kind of excused it a little Bit. But now we're seeing this is a pattern of behavior. So this is a pattern. Then the next day, Danny and Nia sit down after he puts his face in ice and he apologizes to him. To him, to him. You should go and love yourself, girl. She said, I'm sorry for bringing things up the night before. She says it wasn't fun for her. And then he says after that, he wasn't talking her in the right tone. And he apologizes. Now, I saw all of this with my own eyes and ears, and there's no reason that Nia should have been apologizing for anything. I'm a totally proponent of, like, people who are married and with each other should have each other's back. Especially on a reality show like this. It. It makes sense to me like, that a relationship, you would want to support each other and have each other's backs, not throw each other under the bus if you're married, because it's a. For a television show. However, everything that we saw was just Danny being awful to Nia and Nia so clearly, calmly, coolly, collectively explaining how she felt in a nice, calm way, trying to diffuse the situation, trying to make Daniel look better on camera. She could not have played it better. She could not have been nicer. She could not have been a better partner, wife, whatever, to him in these past couple of episodes. And yet he still was finding a way. And she was apologizing to him. To him. I, you guys, I made me so livid. And yes, he did apologize. He says he's got a short fuse and he's snappy when he drinks too much. It's like, okay, then maybe stop drinking. And he is like, you need to go apologize to Lala. And so meanwhile, Lala says it's a switch with his drinking. And Michelle even says that Daniel got in her space when they were drinking, but he's. She's taller than him. I don't actually know why she added that part in. Maybe she's. She was saying she, like, it didn't affect her, I guess because she said he got in her space, but she's much taller than him. And she says she's got a threshold because she was with Jesse. So she's like, understands it. But if all these women are telling you they're uncomfortable with you, then maybe you need to open your ears and listen Daniel Buco. Because it's not. It's like, how many of them have been saying the same thing? Now we have Janet. There was a flashback later in the episode where Brittany brings it up. Michelle's saying it. Jasmine has said it in the past. Now Lala and even his wife is saying the same thing. So it's like every single person is telling you the same thing. So, like, how are you not seeing it? Like, how are you? You need to just, as a person, be able to look at it and say, maybe I should stop making these women uncomfortable. And the audience, the audience, because we're all uncomfortable. Janet says they want to remove people from their lives. Like, anyone who says something against Danny and Nia, they just want to remove them. And Lala's like, janet, you should go talk to Nia. And I was like, what? Did anyone else think this was crazy because Janet has tried to talk to Nia and, like, Nia did not want anything to do with it. So, yes, it is. One of the things that makes Lala good at reality TV is like, her saying to Janet, you should go talk to me now. She's like, maybe Nia will get it because she saw how much of a nightmare her husband was the night before. So maybe she'll be more open to it. But I'm like, I don't think Janet maybe should say anything because they clearly hate each other in Janet. Remember that a few episodes ago when Janet was going up to Nia and they just had that very awkward exchange where they were just staring off at the distance at Britney's pool party? So it was like, do we need a repeat of that? But then Danny and Lala do talk, and this is what I notice is his hair dye. And again, God bless anyone who dyes their hair. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying maybe we need to fix the coloring or something, right? Or maybe it was my tv. Sometimes it could be my tv, you know, like, the contrast is turned up too high or something like that. But I just thought we should maybe look into that. Okay, so then Lala says she will never inherit someone else's beef. So she's saying, I'm not. Not. I'm not saying anything because of Janet or my friends or whatever. She's like, but you have too many drinks and you turn into a different person. She says, I just want to make sure you're good. And Danny is like. Wants her to mind her business. And you could tell that Danny wants to, like, go up against Lala again, but he won't win. And so he's like, yeah, I'm sorry, you know? And he says he's rarely drinking. Meanwhile, Nia and Janet are chatting. They go to some playground in the backyard. Where did that playground come from? Like, what. Where the were they? You know, I said last week on the show they need to up the budget for this cast trip because they're in San Diego. And these houses, three houses, they all got to stay in. And no offense to the houses, like, they're beautiful, but they're not exactly like luxurious houses that I want to watch on television. Like, these are nice houses. If I was living in one, it'd be great. I'd love it. But these three houses, they couldn't have been uglier in terms of design. Maybe I've just been watching, like, too many Nancy Myers movies or something like that. And, you know, I love a rom com with, like, a gorgeous, cute house. And those houses don't. When I think of houses on the movies, I love, like, I love the family stone house. And if you were to really look at that house on Pick It Apart, you would see that it's, like, very cluttered. And it was purposely cluttered. I actually read something about how. And the family stone. It was like, Diane Keaton's character is ill. And so they wanted to show that, like, she had a lot of clutter and her desk was because she had other things on her mind. It was like a character choice. But I still find that house, like, so cozy and everything and warm. And it popped on camera. Or even Practical Magic, one of my favorite movies. That house is fantastic. Fun fact about that. Barbra Streisand tried to buy it, but then found out it was like a built set. It wasn't an actual house. But Barbara saw that movie Practical Magic and was like, I want to buy that house. But anyway, so that's like another house too, that I don't think it's that big. Or it didn't have, like, it didn't seem that expensive. So it's not a money thing. It's just like a warmth or something. And these houses that they put them in on the Valley, I'm like, I can't look at these anymore. Like, can we get an interior designer for some of these sets? I'm not saying reality TV should be totally scripted, but maybe we can get a production designer in some of their apartments or something. And. And the trips maybe send them to a nicer place or a nice resort somewhere. Can we get a Four Seasons? Or in San. Is San Diego have a Four Seasons? I don't know. Just something I would imagine hotels would be like, yeah, we want to be on your show. So who picked out these Airbnbs, because I'm sorry, respectfully. They're ugly as fuck. And I'm looking around and it just feels like ugly. And so I just put them somewhere nicer and great. This place had a playground in the backyard, but I don't understand why. And then it just added to the weirdness of, like, they all are parents and they have kids, but, like, none of the kids were with them on those trips, but they made them stay at a house, at the playground in the backyard or a slide and everything. Like, what? It makes me feel like Uncanny Valley or something. But Janet apologized to Nia, and Nia says she's just indifferent about it. She's like, I try to. I try to see what good in people. And then Janet, she says, didn't see any good in Nia. And Mia is defensive of. Of her husband. And she says that Janet has repeated behavior, which is a pattern. And here's the thing that's frustrating, okay? And I'm going to defend Janet here again. So I don't want to hear people in my DMs again saying, how dare you defend Janet, Because I get you hate her. However, I think that, like Nia saying she sees repeated behavior in Janet and it's a pattern. But, like, you don't see the repeated behavior and pattern in your husband. He has a pattern of repeated shitty behavior way longer than you've probably seen from Janet. Because I've been watching this program for as long as they've been on it, and I've seen this repeated pattern behavior out of her husband, Daniel, longer than Janet just started going after them last season. So that's a whole extra season that I've seen Daniel be a nightmare nuisance to his wife. And yet with Janet, I feel like they've only been in a one season where she was a nightmare to. To Nia. Do you get what I'm saying? So for her to be like, I'm not making up with you, Janet, because of this repeated pattern behavior, I'm like, actually, Nia, you need to look in the fucking mirror at your husband. Or, I don't know, would they be in the mirror together? I guess I don't know if that phrase made sense, but maybe look over at the man you're married to and see the pattern behavior in him and not just Janet. Or you can't just say, oh, I just see it in Janet. Like, Janet. I kind of wish she said she sort of did say, like, Daniel post stuff about online about them because Nia pointed out she's like, you're still talking about us and stuff. And Janet's like, well, your husband's been posting stuff online. And they even showed it, you guys. The Bravo editor showed something like, Danny reposted on his Instagram stories. And he's like, I'm not talking about him. And it's like, well, you kind of are because you're saying that Janet keeps talking about you guys. But then when Janet says you guys are talking about me, like, you can't lump in your. Your husband with yourself when it's convenient, but then lump him out of it when it's not convenient, you know? And so that was really PMO in me. But I think she's in denial and God bless. And we want the best for Nia. And she's trying. She's trying her best. She's got all those kids. She's probably tired. She's probably exhausted. She don't even probably know which way's up. She probably doesn't know. If you say look up, she probably looked to the right. She don't know she's tired. And who amongst us wouldn't be? If you had four under four and the husband under five foot five, you'd be tired, you'd be exhausted. And so I don't even falter so much. I just hope that maybe in the future she could start looking at things a little more big picture and stop excusing the husband's behavior because he's the one actually being a nightmare and not just everybody else who's coming after your husband and pointing out the flaws. And by the way, if you don't want. If you don't want people, your friend group to point out the flaws about your husband, totally get that. But maybe reality TV is not for you. Like, because I also get concerned about Danny and Nia. If everyone's scared to say anything about them, then we can't. Then we're just presenting this pristine version of a relationship with Danny. Nia, that isn't real. And that's not where reality TV is. So I'm always very empathetic to people who, like, wouldn't want to show things on camera or don't want to be upfront and open and honest, whatever. I get that most of us would be like. That most of us would be not good on reality TV because we'd be like, I don't want to show warts and all. Like, I don't want to get into my relationship drama, whatever. I want to keep these things behind closed doors, blah, blah, blah. But when you sign up for a Bravo reality show, you know, that's not the possibility. So it's like, maybe that's not the right outlet for you guys. Do you get what I mean? Because I don't want this show to just be, like, everybody afraid to say anything about Danny and Nia because the audience is going to turn on them or because Nia's gonna make their life hell or whatever it is. Yeah, whatever. Not that she would. What's she gonna do? But, you know, anyway, she's, I think, a little in denial about the husband. And she says to Janet, I appreciate the effort. And she thinks. I feel like she thinks she's got something over Janet. I don't know. I'm just. I'm on Team Janet when it comes to the D and D and E of it all. They go back to la. Janet meets with a fertility doctor for another kid, and they talk about adoption. They're open to adoption because Jason's family's got adoption. We looked into adoption, too. And, you know, one of the interest. Adoption's fantastic. We love. You know, we love and support and people, if you could do it. I have some adoption in my family as well, but I think a lot of people don't necessarily. I've learned from having a baby as a gay man, I've learned that a lot of people don't understand both surrogacy and adoption, and they don't understand the red tape and the. The kind of risks and everything. And so, you know, I'm always just happy that on a show like this, people started talking about that. Jason says a baby can be taken away from the courts in an open adoption. You know, like, there's a lot of nuance to it. I'm certainly not saying anything bad about it. I just noticed that people don't know a lot about that. So when they were talking about it on camera, Jason and Janet saying some of their concerns about it, I thought that was a great conversation to have. Then we cut to the basketball court, and Jason played in high school. I used to play, too. I know I sort of joke about sports, but I always liked basketball and baseball. I was pretty. I think I was pretty good at it, too. But Jason hurts his knee. He was on crutches at BravoCon. And so I guess it was from this, right. They had to call the ambulance. He went away. Then Brittany, Zach, Kristen, Lala get together. Lala's all dressed up. And then this conversation was actually so interesting to me. I was excited to see this grouping. I want to take one more break here and then we're going to come back and discuss this conversation because I thought it was fascinating what Brittany had to say about Nia and Dani and then as well as her relationship with Jax. Let's take a break and we'll come right back. I don't know what it is about spring, but suddenly it's like I want to be outside all the time. I want to move, I want to act like I have a routine, even. It's just a walk outside. I want to feel like I got it together. And that starts weirdly with what I'm wearing, especially my socks, because I feel them on my feet as I'm walking outside. And that's why I've been wearing my Bombas sports socks, which I love. You know, I love my Bombas. They're actually designed for whatever you're doing, walking, working out, even just running some errands. They're cushioned in the right spots, sweat, wicking, and they don't slide down, which is a deal breaker for me. And I can focus on what I'm doing instead of fixing my socks every 5 minutes. I also think they look ch in the gym when I'm looking at myself in the mirror. And once the boots are gone, their warm weather stuff is back. I've been wearing their slides, which are great. They're super lightweight, kind of waterproof, which I love, and just easy to throw on whether I'm heading out or just hanging around the house or on the porch or patio. Their underwear and T shirts are also fully an upgrade. Really soft, breathable. Just better than the basics I had before. And the best part is their mission. Bombas has this thing where every item you purchase, Bombas donates an essential clothing item to someone facing housing insecurity. One purchased, one donated over 150 million items so far. So you feel good. So head over to bombas.com everythingiconic and use code everythingiconic all one word for 20% off your first purchase. That's bombas. B O M B A S.com bombas.com everythingiconic code everything iconic at checkout. This episode is sponsored by Tumi, the international travel, lifestyle and accessories brand. Tumi invites you to break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life with its Mediterranean Escape collection. Inspired by the calm of the coast, the rhythm of the tide, and the ease of uninterrupted travel. Featuring sun, faded pink clay, refreshing washed yellow and lush thyme, the collection captures the serenity and simplicity of a coastal Escape. But it's not just about aesthetics. Tumi is built on legacy of signature durability and performance. Each silhouette is masterfully crafted with premium materials and engineered functionality. Designed for seamless travel, thoughtful compartments, smooth glide zippers and purposeful design details make packing, commuting and traveling feel effortless. The Mediterranean Escape Collection blends the spirit of coastal relaxation with the precision and innovation. Tumi is known for timeless style, elevated performance and pieces built to last. So explore the Mediterranean escape collection@tumi.com or in store.
B
You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings by $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.
C
Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But Aura goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a vpn, antivirus, password manager, spam, call protection, Dark web monitoring, and even up to 5 million in identity theft insurance. All backed by 24. 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or even just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today at aura.com safety. Protect yourself now at aura.com safety.
A
And we're back. All right, so Britney, Zach, Kristen and Lala meet for lunch or dinner. I don't know what meal it was, but Britney says Cruz is communicating so great now that Jax is gone. Which made me so happy because having that man in the house was probably so scary because Remember last season there was stuff about the breaking the table and everything and being around a baby like that is not okay. So the baby Cruz feels safe now and I'm just happy he's gone. And she said she cried in a confessional. She said, unfortunately Cruz had to see how I was treated for so long and it affected more than either of us wanted to realize. Broke my heart. I just thought Jax rotten Hill. And she says he's just as bad now. She says he hasn't changed. Still doing the same things to her. And I feel bad. I feel bad for Britney. I know the argument against Britney is like she kind of is in a hell of her own making, right? Like she knew what she was getting into with Jax. And we can certainly there's an argument to be made. But at this point, I want to root for Brittany because I feel like she. She was strong enough to get out of that relationship. Say what you want about how she got in that relationship, but I am proud of her for getting out of that relationship, taking care of her son on her own. She's paying all the bills. She's even having to pay his taxes, if we're to believe what's going on. She's having to pay his taxes, bills, and all the bills that she. He left her with. And she's able to pay the mortgage on that expensive house, pay for the baby and. Or not the baby. I keep saying a baby, but he's an older. A toddler now. And she's being a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kid and never stops. In the words of the Reba McIntyre Sitcum theme song. So I'm proud of Brittany and I think she's strong and doing the best she can and doing it without Jax. And so she definitely makes mistakes and she shouldn't be with that new man and she should have never been with Jax in the first place. But you know, I'm rooting for her because I just want the best, want the best for all my gals. I do. And. And having Jax in the house like that could not have been good for Cruz and obviously it wasn't. And so seeing not only Cruz light up, but also seem see Britney doing much better without Jax, I feel like that makes me happy. And so regardless of what happened with Britney in the past and what decisions she made that led her here, I'm just rooting for her. I'm rooting for Miguel, my Brit bananas. So then Lala confronts Kristen about Dani and Nia, and Lala's like, there's a real issue here. And the way that Daniel talked to Nia is unacceptable. And Brittany's like, I brought it up last year too and they showed a flashback and she's like, everybody called me jealous, a bad friend and I was mean. But it was like, yeah, Brittany was right too. And Kristen's like, oh, they deal with their issues separately. And Luke and I try to model that in the same way. She says she wants to have their conversations in private and I get that. And I think like in most cases that works, but with Daniel and Nia it feels like hiding too much. I don't know, it makes me uncomfortable. Kristen also says Nia's faith filled and needs to pray and then smile to cope. And that makes me uncomfortable too. It does. I think also being raised Catholic, I went to Catholic grade school and stuff in a conservative area. And I think I've just seen growing up so many instances of, of marriages like this. And even as a young kid I would see like different, different people. And I joke about in my first book, how do I remember this? I tell this story about how when I would go to sleepovers at friends house I would always want to wake up early and hang out and have breakfast with the mom at the house. So like I didn't give a shit about my friends. It was like I want to go have breakfast with the mom and chat with her and find out about her life. I was like, she knows all, she's got the best wisdom, she's going to have the best conversation. Like what do I want to talk to 12 year old boys for? You know, when I was a 12 year old boy, like I had no interest in talking to those other 12 year old boys. Like I just want to talk to the moms, like they know they have the wisdom and the years experience and oftentimes I would look and be like, why are you with this man? And you find that sometimes when it comes to faith and in certain places you find that like the women are making themselves miserable in service of the men. And it's like I saw that too many times growing up and I always just, I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable. And I was always closest to women and so I never, I don't know, I think, yeah, I think something about too I have to talk to my therapist about this but I think having two older brothers and I was the youngest and I was closest with my mom, I think I, I always gravitated a little more towards female energy and I felt like almost in an Effort. I'm a Libra too, so I'm all about balance. And it's like, to balance out the house, it was like I always had to find myself on my mom's side. It's like I was always defending my mother because, I don't know, maybe subconsciously or something. It was like the male energy outbalanced the female energy in the house with two older brothers and my dad. And so it's like someone's gotta have my mom's back. And so it was like I always just gravitated towards that female energy. And I always just want the best for women. And so anyway, I try. But Kristen, she says she's sticking up for Nia and Daniel and look, she's. Somebody said they have an alliance and it's like, yeah, I think that's what it is. Like, Lala said it's bullshit. She's like, kristen has an alliance with Danny and Nia and turns a blind eye. And this is like what we need Lala on this show for. Because even seeing someone like Michelle say, like, oh, I noticed these things with Dani and Nia or Britney saying, I noticed. I tried to bring it up last season and they've all sort of skirted around the issue. We do need people to kind of stand up, like Lala, who might not be afraid to get the audience against her. That's one of the good things about Lala is like, she doesn't give a flying if. Like, the audience is all gonna hate her. We've seen that in the past. And so in some cases. What's that saying? Like, an enemy of my enemy is my friend or something. I feel like Lala's almost a necessary evil for this show because we need someone who's gonna stand up in that truth and, like, not be afraid to call out the. Because Kristen normally is that. But I, I do feel like Kristen maybe has an alliance with Danny and Nia, at least for the show. Right. And not to say that she isn't friends with them too, and maybe she's just having their back. But I. I know when Lala said that, I was like, oh, that seems right. But yeah, Zach said Britney doesn't like me. That was. Made me laugh too, because Zach just threw Britney under the bus and she's like. She's like, you know what, Zach Rotten Hill. She's like, how could you say that? Why are you saying that? Why are you saying that, Zach? And then we also saw a flashback to Nia yelling at Danny on the phone and Brittany was pissed she feels that Zach is protecting Danny, even though Britney feels that way, even though her and Zach have been friends for 17 years. So she's like, why are you sticking up for Danny when you've known me forever? I've known him for 17 years. And Brittany's like, I'm not ever going to talk to them again because then I'll just be called mean and a bully. I'm not going to do it. And I'm like, no, we need you all to talk openly on a reality show. Kristen, though, also says she's never seen this side of Dani and I. That is true, at least from our view as an audience member, is like, I don't know that Kristen's been around in all these times, and maybe if she was, she would call it out. So I'm gonna need it to happen again in a time where Kristen's around so that she can go Mariposa on his ass. Do you know what I'm saying? Could you imagine if we just got Lala and Mariposa, Kristen just teaming up against. Yeah, that would be good. Lala says it's all bullshit, though, in the alliance. And Lala's like, you need to step in, Kristen. This is another reason why Kristen, or Lala is a good reality star, because she's like, kristen, this is what you need to do. Now, honestly, as I'm doing this recap, I feel this is the Bravo thing of, like, I'm talking, and I feel like I'm in lala's and Janet's side. And this is why Bravo is a roller coaster. Because I always say, you know, one episode, you're gonna be on this person's side. The next episode, you can't have blind loyalty to any of these people. You really gotta go on the ride. You gotta go on the rollercoaster with them, because the editors will tell us who. The editors will tell us and show us who we're supposed to be mad at. So we're supposed to be mad at Danny and Mia right now. And so we're on Lala's side, and that's how it's gonna be. And so, you know, they will take us on this ride. And so you think that you hate one person, but then a couple episodes later or next season, you're gonna be on their side. And so you can't have blind loyalty. You gotta be open. You gotta be open for the ride. Just because you hate Janet doesn't mean you can't turn around for an episode or two. And then we could hate her again a couple weeks, if you need to. If you want to. Right? Or Lala too. It's like, I didn't want Lala to join this program. I thought, like, we need Sheena, not Lala. What are we doing? What are we doing? Bravo. That's what I said to myself. What are we doing? What are we doing? Bravo. What are we doing? Huh? What are we doing? That's what I said when they said Lala's joining the cast. I was technically the one that announced it over at BravoCon. Remember, that was like their first official announcement that Lala and Schwartz were joining. And they told me beforehand, like, hey, you're gonna be the one to bring out Schwartz and Lala and say that they're joining the main cast of the Valley. Even though everyone's. It was an open secret. Like, everyone knew. But that was the official announcement. It was technically me who announced it, which is kind of a. Shocked my system. But it was. Yeah, it was like, let's bring out Schwartz and Lala. Uh, oh, hello. And I thought, what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? I might have even said that backstage at BravoCon before that announcement. What are we doing? And yet here I am, eight episodes later, eight episodes in the season, thinking, thank God we have Lala around. Thank God. So you just gotta go on that rollercoaster. And we might not know what we want and need for these shows us until they show us next week on the program. Brittany loses her titties, her puppy. Ah. She said, get out. Leave bubbies those breasts. She got that. Jax paid for that. He made her get a size up that she didn't even want. She gets those removed. They confront and somebody confronts Nia. Jesse and Michelle still trying to get that divorce. Just sign the papers. Just sign the papers. What are we doing? Jesse? Jesse Lally and Michelle. Just sign the papers. Just sign them. I don't. You know, I know with. With divorce and stuff, there's assets involved and children, and it must be hard legally. But at a certain point. Remember that one when Bethenny Frankel's divorce and that went on like a hundred years. It was like 11 years. I felt like we kept watching a new season of Roni and it was like a. I'm still getting divorced. I was like, what's happening here? Why is it taking forever? And I. I don't know, but I feel like you should just sign the papers. I. I feel like if I was going through a divorce, I would just sign anything. I would just be like, get it out of my face. Like, I don't think. I don't know that I have the fight in me. I shouldn't say that on microphone because then Matt will divorce my ass and try to take everything. Hopefully he doesn't. But I don't know that I'd have the will to fight. I'd just be like, I don't care, whatever. Just let me sign something and be done with you. But I hope that Jesse and Michelle, they do. Even with what's her name, Ariana and Tom. I finally heard they just sold their house after all these years. They finally got rid of that house. And I was like, what was taking so long? I would have just been like, take it. I don't care. Which. Maybe that's the bad. But that's like a bad business move, right? Especially with. In that situation. Like, it would have been a bad business to just be like, yeah, you take the house or give me some money for the house. I don't care how much it is. But that's kind of how I think I would feel. Anyway, that's the end of the episode. Thank you all so much for listening. Anything else we have to discuss again, please reminder to all if you are DMing me. I love to get a nice message from people, but just know that I'm not Danny Bucco. I'm not Danny from the Valley. I live in the Valley and my name is Danny, but I'm not Danny Bucco. And so just be careful. But God bless all those who are reaching out to him. May you live long and prosper or something. I don't know. Then what else do we have to discuss? That's it. I love you all. I hope you're watching Atlanta Housewives. I know I keep talking about it, but Atlanta's just. I think it's great this season. I'm loving it. I am. And Rhode Island. I know people keep saying, when are you going to mention Rhode Island? And I'm saving Rhode Island. I'm behind and so I can't even mention it. I know people are talking about Slam Pig and people are just telling me how good it is. And you guys, I'm gonna catch up. I'm gonna binge them all at once. I promise. I'm, like, dying to get to it. You don't even know. You don't even know. I finally caught up on my hacks show and I got about a half hour in me at night after I put the baby down. I got about a half hour of TV time for me and so I'm gonna get into Rhode island very soon. I promise. I promise it's gonna. And when it happens, I know it'll be glorious. And I'm gonna be wanting to talk about it left, right and center, but for now I'm not caught up. And so people asking me, I apologize. I feel bad. Like a bad. I feel like I'm doing a bad job at my job. So like, I don't know what's going on in Rhode island other than like what the. What I see on the interwebs. And so I gotta. I gotta catch up. And I'm going to. I'm going to. I kind of want to see that. I've been in a movie going zone lately. I saw the Devil Wears Prada too. What else did I see? I just saw that project Hail Mary with Ryan Gosling. I wouldn't mind being stuck in space with that man in that cute cozy sweater. I wanted to be that rock man. I love that little rock thing, by the way. Matt watched it and he's like, I didn't like the. He's like, I liked it until the rock guy came. And I was like, that was the whole movie. It was like his relationship with that rock figure figurine or whatever. But it was sort of reminding me like an ET or something. I don't think I would last in space. Like, I know he was a teacher who was really good at science and stuff, but like, I was watching it and I was like, if I was Ryan Gosling and I woke up in space and everybody else in the spaceship was dead, I would just immediately kill myself. And I know that he was like, trying to save the planet and the movie would have not existed if he didn't continue on. But like, I don't know that I'd want to survive just like in space. And thank God he made that rock friend. But he was cute little rock alien friend. What else did I see? Recently saw the Super Mario movie. I kind of want to see. This is a shocking reveal, but I sort of want to see the new he man movie. Uh oh, hello. I'm not even. I grew up more Ninja Turtles, Power Ranger kid. But my brothers were into he man. And so I remember they had all the figures, the he man figures. And so I would play with them as like, hand me down. So I didn't even know about the cartoon. I didn't watch it or whatever. But I remember sometimes with like my Ninja Turtles, I'd grab some of the He Men to like, round out my cast, right? Like If I was doing. If I needed the Red Ranger to have an interaction with somebody and I didn't have a Lord Zed, then I would grab one of the He Men and I'd be like, okay, this is the villain now. Do you know I'm saying? And so they were all crossing over in my world, right? Like Leonardo and Donatello and Michelangelo and Raphael. They were hanging out with both Splinter the rat as well as Grayskull or whatever or some. There was like this one lion thing. What's the animal that he man rides? I remember I loved that one they had. Anyway, saw a trailer for it. I'm like, you know, that looks kind of fun. I don't normally. It's not my thing, but I'm like, I kind of want to see that. And this is not an ad, by the way. I don't know why I'm promoting the he man movie, but I think I'm in a moviegoing thing. And so I need to see. And I need to see some more original stuff. Some more. Show me some original. I need them to do more comedies. I'm feeling I'm in a comedic zone. And seeing Devil Wears Prada, like, there were some laughs and stuff, but even the few laughs that I got of DeVora's Prada 2, I'm like, I need big laughs. So please, like, give me a big comedy to see. I just want a big ensemble comedy. And I want to go to the theaters with a big ass thing of popcorn. I want to get like a giant soft pretzel with some nacho cheese. And I want to have a gay old time and go at it and laugh and laugh my ass off. And so I'm ready to laugh my ass off. That's what I'm trying to say. Maybe there'll be some laughs in the he man movie. I don't know. I probably won't even go see that at the theaters. But it looks sort of fun. As I saw. I saw a trailer this morning right before I recorded, and I was like, you know, it looks kind of fun. Looks sort of fun. Okay, I love you all so much for listening. Go to EverythingIconic store if you want to get merch. Or you can get signed copies of my books there or get my books wherever books are sold and go to your local bookstore. Support your independent bookseller if you can, or bookshop.org is a great online resource for ordering from independent bookstores. I just want to shout them out. And there's also a lot of resources for I just. Somebody just sent me a resource. I wasn't prepared to talk about this, but a resource for book bans. And I thought it was a great gosh, I think it was authors against bookbans.com so if you are an author or you're interested in that, it's something to look into because there are a lot of books being banned right now and I know people have talked about. I'm not the first, of course, but something to look into because I think books are a way for people to be empathetic with each other. And we're in a slippery slope now where people are censoring books and, and the access people have to books. And that worries me as both a ferocious reader as well as author. You know, it worries me. And I'm reading a lot of books right now, a couple memoirs. I'm reading the new Anna Konkle, who I love. She's been a guest on everything iconic. She just started her book. She's got a new book out very early on, but she was the creator and star of PEN15, one of my all time favorite shows. She's got a new book out. I'm excited to get deeper into it. Read the Brandy memoir. We're knee deep in a few books. Okay, bye. Bye. I've rambled enough.
B
Insurance isn't one size fits all. That's why drivers have enjoyed Progressive's name your price tool for years now. With the name your price tool, you tell them what you want to pay and they'll show you options that fit your budget. So whether you're picking out your first policy or just looking for something that works better for you and your family, they make it easy to see your options. Visit progressive.com find a rate that works for you with the name your price tool. Progressive Casualty Insurance company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold. Every day, data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But aura goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a vpn, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. All backed by 24. 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today at aura.com safety protect yourself now at aura.com safety
A
acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend. I'm Alexander Fairweather, raised by one of the world's great creative geniuses, John Chamberlain, on his famous foam couches. Now I'm on the couch again with today's boldest creative minds for conversations that will spark your creativity and give you the courage to create something new on the couch. Launches May 19 with John Gray of Ghetto Gastro, whose food will make you rethink who Belongs at the table. Season 1 Daniel Arsham, Alexander Wang, Annabel Selldorf and more. Subscribe wherever you stream and follow along at John Chamberlain Estate. Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com. Raise your hands to the sky all
B
you have to do is try there's
A
no turning back, no, no it's all in front of you there's no turning
B
back, no, no it's only up to
A
you
C
but yeah, I do not like you.
Date: May 21, 2026
Host: Danny Pellegrino
This episode is a no-holds-barred breakdown of episode 8 ("Misbehavior") of The Valley, Bravo’s reality TV spinoff. Danny Pellegrino navigates the latest drama, centering on troubling behavior between Daniel and Nia, a drag competition gone awry, shifting alliances, and deeper conversations about toxic masculinity, reality TV expectations, and the intersection of faith and relationships. Danny shares listener confusion about his identity, pop culture detours, and candid commentary on what makes reality TV work—or fail.
Timestamp: 04:04-17:25
"Lala says in her confessional the Nia and Danny vibe is suffocating. And I kind of feel that too." (12:27)
"I think that's a bag of bullshit. Because after watching this episode, I'm like, oh, he definitely got skittish and said, absolutely, I'm not going to be doing this episode ... where they're going to be confronting me about my bad behavior." (06:17)
Timestamp: 17:25-30:05
"Jesse Lally was at peace before was when he was just getting his drag done." (07:45)
"She calls him Polly Pocket. And he's a short man. And I'm also. I love a short king, but not that one." (15:30)
"Straight men always have to be centered ... the only reason that Luke would have won, in my eyes, is because they were, like, giving him extra points because he's like a masculine straight man ... a little homophobic. So sorry." (27:30)
Timestamp: 30:05-40:10
"I know the term gaslighting is overused, but it does sort of feel like ... she's calmly saying ... I just want to have a really good time. And he's like, stop talking to me like that." (13:20)
Timestamp: 40:10-47:30
"There's no reason that Nia should have been apologizing for anything." (42:58)
"This is a pattern of behavior." (41:30)
Timestamp: 47:42-63:00
"Cruz is communicating so great now that Jax is gone. Which made me so happy because having that man in the house was probably so scary..." (47:53)
"She says Kristen has an alliance with Danny and Nia and turns a blind eye. And this is why we need Lala on this show..." (58:00)
"You can’t have blind loyalty to any of these people. You really gotta go on the ride. … Just because you hate Janet doesn’t mean you can't turn around for an episode or two." (60:30)
Timestamp: Throughout
"If you don't want people, your friend group, to point out the flaws about your husband ... maybe reality TV is not for you." (36:10)
Timestamp: Scattered
"Okay, I do live in the Valley and my name is Danny, but I'm not married to Nia. I do not have four under four or whatever the fuck." (07:01)
"I almost get anxiety or something seeing the way he talks to her and seeing the way that she so calmly tries to explain how she's feeling." (12:45)
"I love a short king, but not that one." (15:31)
"If you don't want to be real on reality, that's fine ... but like, get off reality TV." (35:17)
"These three houses, they couldn't have been uglier in terms of design ... respectfully. They're ugly as fuck." (37:48)
"You might hate Janet this week, but then a couple episodes later or next season you're gonna be on their side." (60:30)
"She’s being a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kid and never stops. In the words of the Reba McEntire sitcom theme song." (48:23)
| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-----------|----------------| | 04:04 | Episode opens, Daniel & Nia drama, Watch What Happens Live cancellation skepticism | | 12:27 | Lala’s “suffocating” confessional, Danny’s agreement | | 15:30 | Lala’s “Polly Pocket” shade, drag competition antics | | 27:30 | Drag contest outcome called out as homophobic | | 35:15 | Critique of Daniel & Nia’s approach to reality TV | | 41:30 | Hot mic moment: "Take off your mic" - Danny gets chills | | 42:58 | Criticism of Nia apologizing to Daniel | | 47:53 | Brittany on Jax's absence and Cruz thriving | | 58:00 | Lala challenges Kristen’s "alliance" with Danny & Nia | | 60:30 | Discussion of shifting audience loyalties to cast members |
Danny keeps the tone irreverent, incisive, and empathetic. He pulls no punches on problematic behaviors, especially those that make for uncomfortable or inauthentic television, rooting for the women who break free from toxic partners, and calling for better production choices. He also delivers personal anecdotes, injecting his unique blend of humor and pop culture observations, making the episode feel like both a confessional and a reality TV group chat.
Reality TV is, at its best, a mirror, and Danny’s recap holds it up with brutal honesty, a touch of camp, and plenty of heart.
For more, visit Everything Iconic Store or get Danny’s books wherever books are sold. Support your local bookshops and keep those DMs (about the right Danny) coming!