Podcast Summary: Jeff Lewis Has Issues

Episode: Lisa Rinna: "The Traitors" & Fashion

Host: Jeff Lewis (SiriusXM)
Guest: Lisa Rinna (with Dorit Kemsley and Annie as additional panelists)
Aired: February 11, 2026

Overview

In this lively and candid episode, Jeff Lewis is joined by actress and TV personality Lisa Rinna, with guest input from Dorit Kemsley. The discussion dives into Lisa's recent stint on "The Traitors" Season 4, her burgeoning career in the fashion industry, family updates, her reflections on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," and a few personal anecdotes. True to the show's title, Jeff and Lisa hold nothing back, blending humor, honesty, and behind-the-scenes details fans will love.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Reconnecting and Harry Hamlin’s Pasta Sauce

• Harry Hamlin's Sauces: Jeff reminisces about having Harry on the show, with Lisa sharing that his sauces (including rosemary red wine, lemon pepper dill, marinara, and spicy vodka) are now at Gelson's.
  • Lisa: "There’s four sauces at Gelson’s right now." [02:38]
• Lisa’s Grocery Ritual: Lisa admits she loves grocery shopping and often visits Gelson’s—her “spot.”
• Personal Updates: Harry is currently filming "Mayfair Witches" Season 3.

2. Behind the Scenes of "The Traitors"

Jeff reacts with surprise and delight at Lisa's casting:

• Lisa’s Casting & Pay: Jeff jokes about Lisa being a big "get" and wonders if she negotiated a higher fee. Lisa acknowledges being well-compensated.
  • Jeff: "I thought you were a big get for them." [04:14]
  • Lisa: "It was a good fee." [04:32]

House Dynamics:

• Lisa’s Surprising Affection: Lisa tells Jeff she genuinely liked all her co-cast members, rare in her reality TV experience.
  • Lisa: "I loved everybody, which is so shocking..." [04:56]
• Rivalries & Gameplay: Lisa reflects on her dynamic with Colton (“my first gay male nemesis”) and on being blindsided and betrayed by Rob.
  • Lisa: "I'd never had a gay man come after me… I was actually grateful for it." [05:27]
  • Lisa: "Rob fucked me over so hard, didn't he? I had no idea." [06:34]
• Iconic Exit: Lisa “spanked” Rob and gave others a “timeout” after being voted out, keeping it all in fun. [06:44]
• Michael Rapoport: Both Jeff and Lisa celebrate Michael’s “shield” role and encyclopedic Housewives knowledge.
• Fashion on Set: Lisa had to do her own hair and makeup in challenging conditions—"HDTV lighting…and no lighting in a castle" [10:32]
• Food in the Castle: Lisa is honest: "It sucked...Not enough protein, that's why they're fighting over the salmon." [10:48-11:32]
• Survival Strategy: Criticized for being quiet, she explains this was intentional to avoid standing out as a target.
  • Lisa: “If I'd been too loud, I'd have been called out for that also. So I chose the quiet round…” [10:10]

3. Lisa Rinna’s Fashion Journey

• Runway and Red Carpet: Lisa discusses how her fashion career unexpectedly took off post-Housewives. She credits serendipity and always saying "yes" to opportunities.
  • Lisa: "Literally I got a call…my publicist called me and said, do you think you would wanna get on a plane in four days and go to Paris for a fashion show?" [39:40]
  • Jeff: "You're like the fashion it girl now. It's crazy." [39:27]
• Outfits for ‘The Traitors’: Each cast member had to bring multiple outfits; Lisa carefully curated her looks, highlighting under-the-radar designers (notably Eric Charlotte).
• Notable Banquet Look: Lisa's dramatic banquet ensemble by Eric Charlotte and dressing tips for the show. [12:45-13:41]

4. Family and Real Life

• Daughters Update:

  • Delilah now lives locally, renting a house and pursuing music; Amelia is based in New York but travels extensively as a supermodel.
  • Lisa on her daughters’ ambition: “They want something, they set out to do it, and they get it.” [17:24]
  • On being a parent to adult daughters and their dating choices: “You can't help it...my gut tells me he's not good.” [18:19, 18:26]

• Anecdotes:

  • Jeff and Lisa exchange war stories about kids getting sick, stuffed animals, and the trials of hands-on parenting.
  • Hilarious memory of Lisa’s pragmatic eating habits: “I'm not gonna eat for three days after this.” [19:27]
  • Story of Delilah’s hair mishap as a child and Chaz Dean coming to the rescue. [21:36-22:53]

5. Reflection on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

• Departure Reflections:

  • Lisa admits she wasn’t happy with how the show handled her exit:
    • Lisa: “I was not [happy with it].” [35:47]
  • She feels she should have taken a break to grieve her mother's passing rather than filming and believes her visible grief made viewers uncomfortable.
    • Lisa: “It was difficult to grieve in the public eye. I also don't think people are comfortable watching other people grieve... So, it was a really, really difficult ending to that chapter.” [36:16-36:53]
  • Grateful in hindsight for what Housewives did for her and her daughters’ careers, and for her QVC successes:
    • “It certainly did. I mean, that show… you gotta do something with it. And they did.” [37:26]
  • Jeff shares his own experience of a messy Bravo exit, echoing Lisa’s journey toward gratitude and reinvention. [38:07-38:56]

• Andy Cohen and the Role of Actors:

  • Lisa reveals she and Eileen Davidson were the first actors cast, and her negotiation to limit Harry Hamlin’s participation on the show:
    • Lisa: "We had a special deal that Harry Hamlin would only have to show up three times because I did not want to ruin his career." [42:07]
  • On sobriety: Lisa didn’t drink on camera for the first five years, following Harry’s advice. [42:36-42:56]

• Current Friendships:

  • Lisa is still in touch with Erica, Kyle, Teddy, and Dorit from her Housewives days [41:22]
  • On Crystal Minkoff: Lisa stands by her assertion that Crystal wasn’t a great housewife, but explains the pressure and need to protect her family’s brand. [41:33-41:42]

6. Book Release and Personal Story

• Lisa’s Book:

  • New memoir: You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It (available for pre-order, out February 24th). Audiobook version narrated by Lisa herself. [34:47, 34:54]
  • Annie (panelist) praises the book for its “juicy,” inspiring stories about Lisa’s life, family, and business resilience. [25:01]

• Mother’s Survival Story:

  • Lisa recounts her mother Lois’s harrowing escape from serial killer David Carpenter, providing chilling details and reflecting on generational trauma.
    • Lisa: "She grabs it with her hand, so slices off her fingers. Her fingers are, like, dangling… military policeman shoots him in the stomach, and he lives." [26:53-27:52]
  • Lisa reveals only three women survived Carpenter, and how this story shaped her family.

• Future Plans:

  • Lisa continues to focus on acting and fashion, intentionally choosing projects that give her freedom and joy. She recently let go of her podcast due to time constraints and travel.
    • Lisa: "I just couldn't do it. I'm acting. I'm doing fashion, baby. I'm doing it. I'm just gonna live. I wanna live." [48:53-48:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lisa Rinna on "The Traitors":

  • "I wasn't a great traitor, but I was fucking iconic." [09:39]
  • "Would I have liked to not have [Rob] come for me? Yeah, of course." [09:36]

• Jeff on Lisa's Parenting Stories:

  • "You scared the shit out of me when I first met her." [18:42]

• On Fashion and Reinvention:

  • Lisa: "You could do it. We had fun, but we couldn't do it. I can't take one day off... I just couldn't do it. I'm acting, I'm doing fashion, baby. I'm doing it. I'm just gonna live. I wanna live." [48:43-48:56]

• Housewives Wisdom:

  • Lisa: "Expectations are resentments waiting to happen, period." [09:15]

• Lisa's No-Filter Philosophy:

  • Lisa: "No, not even. I would work for [Ryan Murphy] for free." [40:47]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Start of Main Conversation: [01:22]
• Harry Hamlin’s Sauce & Grocery Shopping: [02:22-03:55]
• “The Traitors” Experience Begins: [04:03]
• Colton and Rob Game Dynamics: [05:27-07:23]
• Michael Rapoport and Banquet Outfits: [07:23-13:41]
• Fashion and Outfits Discussion: [12:45-14:25]
• Parenting and Family Life: [14:39-19:47]
• Delilah’s Hair Story: [21:36-22:53]
• Colton’s Offer and Game Theories: [23:03-24:18]
• Lisa’s Book ‘You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It’: [34:36-35:03, 24:39-25:15]
• Lois’s Survival Story: [25:56-28:47]
• Reflections on RHOBH Exit: [35:46-36:53]
• Fashion It Girl Era: [39:27-41:01]
• RHOBH Friendships and Production Secrets: [41:07-42:30]
• Sobriety and Housewives: [42:36-42:56]
• Podcast Decision and Life Philosophy: [48:12-48:56]

Final Thoughts

This episode gives listeners a full-spectrum view of Lisa Rinna’s ever-evolving life, from reality TV drama to survivor tales, parenting confessions, and high-fashion exploits. With humor, honesty, and characteristic candor, Lisa and Jeff pull back the curtain on fame, family, and finding new passions after reality TV.

For more episodes, listen to "Jeff Lewis Has Issues" on SiriusXM or check the Jeff Lewis Channel on the SiriusXM app.