Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald

Episode Title: Dr. Drew on Unknown Number Catfish Doc, Cardi B and Prison Housewives
Release Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Heather McDonald
Guest: Dr. Drew Pinsky

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a whirlwind of juicy pop culture: recent legal dramas involving celebrities, headlines about reality TV stars, rumors from Hollywood, and—most notably—a deep-dive discussion with Dr. Drew Pinsky about the shocking “Unknown Number” documentary. The doc tells the true story of a mother who cyberbullied her own daughter, sending sexual and suicidal messages over nearly two years.

Heather and Dr. Drew dissect the motivations, pathology, and emotional fallout of this real-life catfish case. The conversation explores family dynamics, addiction, the psychology of online cruelty, and broader cultural trends around technology and parenting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cardi B’s Court Case & Celebrity Trials

• Heather recaps Cardi B’s victorious 2018 court case, where she was accused of scratching a woman with her nails during her first pregnancy.
• Heather highlights the bizarre moments in the courtroom—Cardi’s ever-changing wigs, the odd questions from counsel, and Cardi’s candid responses.
  • “Is that your real hair?” — “I don’t think so, it’s a wig.” — Cardi B, as recounted by Heather (01:35)
• The case is likened to other high-profile trials, e.g., Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing accident, with celebrities navigating public perception even on the witness stand.

2. Housewives Behind Bars

• Karen Huger’s legal troubles (Real Housewives of Potomac) — her recent DUI conviction and stint behind bars.
• Heather pitches a humorous podcast concept: “Doing Time with Tree, The Dom, and The Shaw,” featuring Teresa Giudice, Karen Huger, and Jen Shah discussing their prison experiences (07:30).

3. Scooter Braun & Sydney Sweeney Rumors

• Heather addresses industry gossip about Scooter Braun and Sydney Sweeney’s rumored relationship and the age gap discourse (08:30).

4. Engagement Ultimatums & Podcast Culture

• The tale of Travis (of Travis and Taylor) waiting until Taylor guested on his podcast to propose. Commentary on men leveraging podcast appearances as relationship milestones (09:30).

The Unknown Number Catfish Documentary

Main Segment Starts: [11:00]

5. The Case Recap: A Shocking Maternal Betrayal

• Heather introduces Dr. Drew to discuss the story of two teens, Lauren and Owen, from Michigan, who are relentlessly cyberbullied via anonymous group texts.
• The texts, which targeted Lauren, were extremely graphic and sexual—shockingly later revealed to be sent by Lauren’s own mother, Kendra ([12:00]).

Notable Quote

• “It’s not just ‘oh, she cyberbullied her daughter.’ The texts, Drew, are disgusting… really, really sexual stuff, which then even freaks you out more that it’s the mother.”
  — Heather (13:17)

6. How the Mother Was Caught

• The harassment went on for 22 months before being traced back to Kendra via her IP address.
• Law enforcement finally intervened after parents’ and school’s failed attempts to stop the harassment ([15:30]).

Notable Quote

• “Nothing like body cam footage when someone gets caught… the moment they knock on her door and it all changes.”
  — Heather (15:39)

7. The Extent of the Cruelty

• Kendra’s messages became more explicit and cruel over time, at one point telling her daughter to “off yourself already” and “if you’re not gonna kill yourself, we will. #bang” ([21:17]).

• Documentarian asks if Kendra feared for Lauren’s safety:
  • “No, I mean, I know my daughter really well and I was not concerned that she’d actually do that.” — Kendra (as quoted by Heather, 23:10)

Dr. Drew’s Clinical Analysis and Commentary

8. The Psychology Behind Kendra’s Actions

• Munchausen by Proxy—Internet Age: Dr. Drew describes the mother’s behavior as “internet Munchausen by proxy.”

  • She maintained toxic control, kept her daughter dependent, and also played the victim to gain sympathy from her community ([25:17]).

  “There’s no boundary between the mom and the child… the child is essentially in a cult of two.”
  — Dr. Drew (25:22)

• Criminality, Addiction, and Dissociation

  • Drew discusses how such behaviors often accompany addiction, personality disorders, and sometimes even dissociative identity phenomena ([32:26]).
  • Compares it to process addictions (like porn addiction), noting how the steady dopamine hits from online activity can spiral out of control.

• No Justification

  • Trauma might explain behavior, but Drew emphasizes that “there’s no ‘therefore.’ There’s no justification for the behavior—the behavior is sick” ([32:26]).

9. Interview with the Daughter & Family Fallout

• The daughter, Lauren, remained emotionally closed off, still expressing love for her mother despite the harm—Drew calls this typical in cases of trauma bonding ([25:22]).
• Drew suggests Lauren’s path to recovery requires individuation and forgiveness, but maintaining distance from her mother for safety ([75:44]).

Further Themes and Juicy Commentary

10. Cultural Reactions to Maternal Abuse

• Heather and Drew analyze why mothers bullying or undermining their daughters triggers such visceral reactions among women.
  • “I think as women we are overprotective and we are more angry when we see another mother abuse their power.” — Heather (36:10)
• Comparisons to high-profile cases of female teachers abusing male students; skepticism over pop culture narratives that minimize the trauma for young men ([37:43]).

11. Women’s Desire for Attention & Societal Influences

• Drew probes the psychology of female attention-seeking, especially as it relates to the “male gaze” and social status ([64:06]).
• Heather reflects on how media and romantic comedies shaped women’s ideas about being “chosen”—contrasting real-life dynamics ([65:19]).
  • “Guys don’t notice the quiet girl in the corner. You need to go right up and… have eye contact… It is not that, but it’s this weird fantasy…” — Heather (66:45)

12. Parenting, Phones, and Adolescent Mental Health

• Discussion on the role of smartphones in exacerbating bullying and mental health issues among teens, with both supporting strong limits on adolescent screen time ([57:15]).
• Drew says, “The number one cause of distress in adolescence is the screen, the phone.” (57:15)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “It’s one thing if someone’s harassed, but how about changing your phone number or taking away the phone altogether?” — Heather (15:25)
• “‘No, I was not concerned my daughter’d actually do that [commit suicide].’” — Kendra (as quoted, 23:10)
• “There’s no ‘therefore’… no justification for this behavior. The behavior is sick.” — Dr. Drew (32:26)
• “She’s got done enough damage that even if she’s into a glorious recovery and it’s years down the road I’d still have supervision.” — Dr. Drew (75:44)
• “That mother… was just dying for attention. Coaching, teaching, the center of every room. If you’re a bad person at the root, it’s a gateway to fuck over a whole different group of people.” — Heather (63:18)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Cardi B trial recap: [00:00 – 04:49]
• Real Housewives jail discussion & pop culture news: [05:17 – 11:00]
• Intro to “Unknown Number” Catfish Case: [11:00]
• Case breakdown, mother’s arrest: [13:30 – 21:00]
• Analysis of Kendra’s psychological profile: [25:17 – 34:22]
• Discussion on female teacher predation, gendered trauma: [34:22 – 39:40]
• Phones, technology, and parenting: [57:15 – 61:18]
• Societal/gender norms, media influence, and motherhood: [64:06 – 74:06]
• Final reflections on Lauren’s future, boundaries, and recovery: [74:16 – 76:04]

Closing Thoughts

Heather and Dr. Drew’s discussion is a candid, sometimes darkly funny, yet always compassionate examination of a uniquely disturbing case and its broader cultural implications. The episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the psychology of online cruelty, parent-child dynamics, technology’s effects on teens, and the ever-juicy world of modern scandals.

For more from Dr. Drew:
— Live streamed interviews Tues-Thurs at 2PM (see drdrew.com, 79:16)
— Welcomes feedback (but not abuse) from the “Juicy Scoopers” (79:45)

Listen Next:
Subscribe to Heather’s new show, Juicy Crime, for deeper dives into true crime with that signature Juicy Scoop spin!