Jeff Lewis Has Issues – Episode Summary
Episode: Kym Whitley, Shannon Beador, & Michael Beck: Rainbow & Butterfly
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Jeff Lewis
Guests: Kym Whitley, Shannon Beador, Michael Beck
Overview
This lively episode brings together comedian Kym Whitley, “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Shannon Beador, and regular “Chump” Michael Beck for a spirited, unfiltered conversation. The group takes listeners on a hilarious ride through stories of holiday décor by "the gays," country club drama, raising empathetic (and high-maintenance) kids, awkward encounters with overly friendly waiters, and weight anxieties fresh into 2026. As always, Jeff weaves his personal drama and sharp wit into every subject.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Kym’s Return & Her Glam Routine
- Kym Whitley returns after a busy filming schedule and jokes about always looking on point. She credits her Filipino makeup artist:
- “No, when I do it, I look like a prostitute, bad makeup? No, Eileen Gamma. She did it for me.” (02:29 – Kym Whitley)
- Celebrates Filipino talent, particularly in care professions and karaoke.
- “They are the nicest people. And they laugh a lot. And they're great singers.” (02:57 – Kym Whitley)
2. Holiday Parties & Office Drama
- Jeff recounts storming into other live interviews at SiriusXM because he was upset about not being invited to the company holiday party.
- “So I said, ‘julia, were you invited to Christmas party?’… I go, ‘motherfuckers.’ And then I stormed out.” (07:56 – Jeff Lewis)
- The group reflects on whether Jeff was left out intentionally due to his penchant for bringing a large entourage and causing mischief.
- “They thought I was going to start trouble.” (09:10 – Jeff Lewis)
3. Kim’s “Rainbow & Butterfly” Crew & Epic Holiday Decor
- Kym outsources her elaborate holiday decorations to two friends, “Rainbow and Butterfly”—two gay Puerto Rican decorators:
- “When they come to my house, I was like, oh, yeah, the rainbows and the butterflies were here because it's always fantastic.” (10:55 – Kym Whitley)
- The group marvels over the lavishness and affordability of her displays, sparking envy and questions from Jeff.
- “Those gays went all out.” (14:40 – Jeff Lewis)
4. Tennis Court and Gated Estate Living
- Kym opens her house and tennis court (more often used for roller skating!) to Jeff and friends.
- “We black people, we don't play tennis. We over there roller skating on it. I got a pickleball net, I got a volleyball net all on the court and a basketball court, all on the tennis court.” (11:55 – Kym Whitley)
- Jokes about not giving out her gate code and her two dogs (“Dorito” who will “bite your balls” and “Dexter”).
- “My dog Dorito will bite you. And Dexter, Dexter's little one, he's vicious. But that big one has been trained to bite your balls.” (12:37 – Kym Whitley)
5. Wealth, Lifestyle & Generators
- Kym admits not knowing her utility bills and having a business manager (“That’s rich.”)
- “I have a business manager.” (18:06 – Kym Whitley)
- She also inherited a massive generator from her survivalist predecessor.
- “You have a generator? Oh, it’s the biggest. This damn room. This man. And he had a water tank.” (16:26 – Kym Whitley)
6. Adoption Story: Kym Becomes a Mom
- Kym tells the moving story of how she abruptly adopted her son Joshua, left at the hospital by a mentee with Kym’s name on the baby.
- “She literally has the baby. Leaves the baby at the hospital with my name and phone number.” (20:19 – Kym Whitley)
- Chronicles the rush to get supplies and how her mother convinced her:
- “My mother looked at me... She said, you like 99 years old. You ain’t got no kids. You got one egg left and you ain’t got no man. Go get that baby!” (21:42 – Kym Whitley)
- Formed a “village” of friends to help raise him—featured on OWN’s “Raising Whitley.” (24:46)
7. Parenting, Perspective, & Empathy
- Group discusses raising empathetic, grounded kids in privileged environments.
- “How do we let them see normal, be with normal people, like in the hood, like the food bank…?” (28:58 – Kim Whitley)
- Shannon shares how she raised her daughters to give back and avoid “fast living.” (29:13–29:46)
- Jeff and Michael joke about his daughter’s high expectations and the challenges of teaching value:
- “She does not have perspective… she doesn’t really understand what things cost and how other kids [live].” (29:13 – Jeff Lewis)
- “Her currency, that’s what she knows. Now that she has her own bank account and her own money, she can at least kind of…” (31:21 – Michael Beck)
8. Country Club & The Gays
- Jeff investigates local country clubs, referencing their moves to be more inclusive.
- “This is the time he’d like to join.” (36:35 – Michael Beck)
- Discussion of tennis lessons, and the possibility Monroe would prefer a gay coach:
- “She loves gays. You’re right. She loves. She’s like, Kim loves the gays.” (37:28 – Jeff Lewis)
9. Dinner at Tam O’Shanter & The Flirty Waiter
- Michael tells a story about an obviously gay waiter being extra-friendly and possibly flirting with him and his boyfriend:
- “When he brought us our bill, he had already written his phone number with a little smiley face on it before we even asked. I was like, oh, okay.” (40:09 – Michael Beck)
- Waiter texts: “Hey, stud… by the way, you guys are really sexy.” (41:18)
- The group debates: Was he hitting on them or just being friendly/networking?
- “He wants a threesome, Kim.” (41:31 – Jeff Lewis)
- “No, I do not believe. I gotta disagree, because it could be a little like, oh, let me see. Where y’all gonna go?” (42:20 – Kim Whitley)
10. End-of-Year Weigh-Ins & Body Image Banter
- Jeff and Michael get on the scale live in-studio after joking about weight and BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts).
- “He got fat last summer.” (43:51 – Kim Whitley)
- “I just want good naked weight. I have good clothes… I want naked weight.” (46:44–46:56 – Jeff Lewis)
- Kim and Shannon physically examine Jeff’s augmented backside:
- “Can I touch it?” (45:00 – Kim Whitley)
- “No, go under the cup. Get your fingers under there.” (47:59 – Kim Whitley)
11. Matchmaking & “Dual Action” Shannon
- Kim offers to play matchmaker for Shannon, who’s recently divorced, and Jeff tries to pitch actor Steve Guttenberg as a prospect.
- “I am going to D him my damn self. I'm your representative. How about that?” (49:22 – Kim Whitley)
- The group jokes about being proper “first lady in the streets, dual action in the sheets.” (51:19 – Michael Beck, Kim Whitley)
- Shannon plugging her charity auction of show outfits for golden retriever rescue. (50:53)
Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp
-
On Filipino Karaoke Talent:
“First of all, they are the nicest people. ... And they laugh a lot. And they're great singers.”
— Kym Whitley (02:57) -
On Adoption Shock:
“She literally has the baby. Leaves the baby at the hospital with my name and phone number.”
— Kym Whitley (20:19) -
On Parental Reality:
“You got one egg left and you ain't got no man. Go get that baby!”
— Kim’s mother, relayed by Kym (21:42) -
On Sexual Innuendo:
“You got to tell me. Do you want to hit or you want it forever? What do you want to know?”
— Kym Whitley to Shannon (13:44) -
On Diversity & Parenting:
“How do we let them see normal, be with normal people, like in the hood, like the food bank…?”
— Kim Whitley (28:58) -
On Wait Staff Flirting:
“When he brought us our bill, he had already written his phone number with a little smiley face on it...”
— Michael Beck (40:09) -
On Body Image Ritual:
“I just want good naked weight. I have good clothes… I want naked weight.”
— Jeff Lewis (46:44) -
Matchmaking, Blunt Approach:
“I am going to D him my damn self. I'm your representative. How about that?”
— Kym Whitley (49:22) -
Physical Comedy:
“No, go under the cup. Get your fingers under there.”
— Kym Whitley, encouraging Shannon to test Jeff’s butt filler (47:59)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|-------------| | Kym references Filipino makeup artists | 02:29–03:54 | | Jeff recounts office party snub | 07:56–09:34 | | Kim’s “Rainbow & Butterfly” decorators | 10:55–14:40 | | Kym’s adoption story | 20:19–24:46 | | Parenting & teaching kids empathy | 28:58–32:03 | | Flirty waiter at Tam O'Shanter | 39:03–42:20 | | Weigh-ins and butt filler banter | 43:47–48:15 | | Dual action jokes, Shannon matchmaking | 51:11–52:15 |
Tone & Style
The episode is unscripted, raucous, and rooted in the candid, fast-paced, shade-throwing style Jeff Lewis is known for. The group bounces between zinging one-liners, genuine personal stories, and affectionate ribbing, with colorful language and no shortage of playful (and bawdy) digs.
Summary
This episode exemplifies why “Jeff Lewis Has Issues” is beloved: outrageous storytelling, heart (especially in Kym’s adoption tale), and no shortage of unfiltered, irreverent banter. For those new to the show, expect laughter, some shock, and even some real warmth beneath the snark.