Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

Summary

Pod Meets World — Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi (April 29, 2026)

Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

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Episode Overview

This episode of “Pod Meets World” transports listeners back to 1993’s golden era of TGIF, channeling the spirit of growing up in the spotlight — but with a twist: Danielle Fishel (Topanga on “Boy Meets World”) sits down with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi. The conversation dives into Snooki’s evolution from reality TV’s party girl to entrepreneur, author, and mom, tackling fame, childhood, parenting, reality TV legend status, and her recent cervical cancer diagnosis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Snooki’s Childhood & Early Influences

• Shy Beginnings: Nicole shares that as a child, she was “super shy until I really hit, like, my teenage years, like, 13.” (07:50) She was “wrapped around my mom’s leg all the time” until middle school.
• Only Child Experience: Growing up adopted and an only child influenced her confidence and "main character energy" as a teen. (08:45, 10:13)
  • Quote: “When you’re an only child, it’s literally like you’re spoiled. It’s all about you.” (10:13)
  • Meeting her biological family began recently, sharing details about her closed adoption and an emotional first call with her birth mother. (11:19–12:16)

Teen Interests and Hobbies

• Favorite Toys: Pogs, Beanie Babies, and Mary-Kate & Ashley movies featured prominently. She even made her own boy band Pogs. (09:29)
• Growing Up in Marlboro: Life on an apple orchard, small-town vibes, and graduating with 120 kids. (16:43)
• Competitive Gymnastics to Cheer: Snooki transitioned from intense gymnastics to being a self-described “coach” on the cheer squad. Gymnastics felt “like work,” whereas cheer was pure fun and leadership. (16:49-18:08)

Parenting and Generational Lessons

• Raising Her Kids Differently: Nicole reflects on her parents being “very strict” and now strives for open communication with her children. (21:13)
  • Quote: “I just want, like, full transparency. Like, you can come to me with anything. ... I am here for you, you know, for you to talk to me about uncomfortable things.” (21:50–22:27)
• Daughter’s Cheer Success: Her daughter excels in competitive cheer, a path Nicole wished she had started earlier herself. (18:37–19:45)

The Birth of “Snooki” and Reality TV Fame

• Nickname Origins: “Snooki” comes from “Save the Last Dance,” a moniker given for being the first in her friend group to kiss a boy. Only one friend, Katie, called her that before MTV. (23:00–24:01)
  • Quote: “On ‘Save the Last Dance,’ it’s Snook the coochie crook... she never called me Nick. ... And then it just stuck.” (23:00–24:01)
• First Kiss: At age 12 or 13, at a friend’s basement hangout, she had her “big” moment. (25:09)

Jersey Shore: Fame, Controversy, and Cultural Impact

• Unexpected Success: The show was shelved for a year before airing, with the cast unaware of the coming media storm. (25:54)
  • The controversial “punch” incident became a defining TV moment. MTV respected her wishes by initially airing it blacked out; she describes taking two years to “get over it.” (28:00–29:00)
  • Quote: “It took me, like, two years to get over it, because it was so scary.” (28:00)
• Mall Mayhem: Fame hit home when she could no longer shop anonymously; “There was a line to take pictures... is this my life now?” (26:59)

Legacy, Meme Culture, and Cast Dynamics

• Cast Chemistry: Snooki believed she’d be real-life friends with most castmates, except “Vinnie stuck out like a sore thumb.” (35:20)
• Drinking & Maturity: Her party days were contextualized by youth; she now drinks socially and prioritizes family/work over nightlife. (36:29)
• Internet Memes: The infamous “anonymous note” to Sam (“Also was grinding with multiple fat women...”) was their idea, not producers’. She’s surprised the moment is still meme fodder. (40:09)
  • Quote: “Everyone’s always like, oh, the producers told you to do that? That was all our idea.” (40:39)

Life Beyond Reality TV and Navigating Health Challenges

• Jersey Shore’s Future: The “final season” (on MTV) is coming, but the cast remains close and expects to film elsewhere (“Jersey Shore retirement home — literally!”). (43:10–44:40)
• Cervical Cancer Diagnosis: Danielle offers empathy, having faced her own health scare. Snooki details the emotional journey: putting off uncomfortable but necessary appointments, the shock of the diagnosis, and the difficulties of medical decisions while balancing work.
  • Emphasis on prevention: She repeatedly urges listeners, “do your appointments, don’t do what I did and wait and let it fester.” (49:00–50:03)
  • Emotional aftermath of being told she’d need a hysterectomy and could never have more children: “Knowing that I don’t have that... I think that’s where I had like the mental breakdown.” (50:24)
  • Public Response: The outpouring of support moved her deeply, and she’s proud to have inspired many fans to book screenings: “We got so many calls because of your video... That was the whole point of why I was explaining my journey.” (51:17–52:26)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Outgrowing the “Party Girl” Brand
  “Snooki is the brand... I know, doing these interviews and they’re calling me Snooki, but I was like, kind of like in the transition of, like, Snooki’s like, the party girl. And now I’m a mom... But, like, party girl turned mommy.” — Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi (07:09)

• On Navigating Fame
  “We had no idea what it was going to be called or what it was. I was just excited to, like, finally do reality... a whole year went by and we didn’t hear anything. ... Then we started seeing the previews and it came out and everyone was talking about it.” — Snooki (25:54)

• On Trauma and the ‘Punch’ Incident
  “I love the fact that... the network was very respectful... because that was insane. And it took me like two years to get over it, because it was so scary.” — Snooki (28:00)

• On Parenting Differently
  "I don’t want them to be scared to tell me things, and that’s how I felt with my parents, and I hated it. I don’t want that with my kids. So I’m trying to have an open communication.” — Snooki (22:27)

• On Her Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
  “It was definitely scary. ... I ignored him for two years and I was like, I’ll be fine. It’s all right. ... The good thing is that I caught it early and it’s very common. ... Do your appointments, don’t do what I did and wait and let it fester.” — Snooki (45:20, 49:00)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Danielle’s Monologue – 02:35–06:10
• Snooki on Childhood & Adoption – 07:09–12:26
• Favorite Toys & Teen Interests – 09:19–10:13, 09:26–09:51
• Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Small-Town Life – 16:43–19:45
• Parenting, Being a ‘Cheer Mom’ – 19:45–22:42
• Nickname ‘Snooki’ & First Kiss – 22:42–25:31
• Early Jersey Shore Fame & The ‘Punch’ – 25:54–29:16
• Cast Dynamics & Drinking Then vs. Now – 35:20–37:40
• Internet Fame/Meme Culture – 40:09–42:46
• Final Season & Post-MTV Plans – 43:10–44:55
• Cancer Diagnosis, Advocacy, and Recovery – 45:00–52:26

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Final Thoughts

This intimately candid episode traces Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s journey from shy only child to iconic reality personality and devoted mother, revealing the lived-in vulnerabilities behind the screen persona. With warmth and humor, Danielle and Snooki traverse tough subjects — trauma, diagnosis, and public life — while celebrating resilience, friendship, and the power of being unabashedly yourself.

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Memorable Closing:
“We still have a lot to offer... we’ll always film until we’re in nursing homes, like, killing each other... Jersey Shore retirement home, literally!” — Snooki (44:36–44:40)

Transcript

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Give me money for cigarette Leave your

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

bed I stay the night and one night be two or three. The kids are not all right but that's okay cuz no one here is

[Danielle Fishel]

hello titties. Nope. Producers. Do. Do we have to bleep that now? No. Okay, well I'll just keep workshopping it. Welcome to Teen Beat. I am your host Danielle Fishel, the recent Dancing with the Stars hopeful, current American Idol Additional Content host and former child star who spent every landmark moment of her teenage years on tv. No matter what awkward phase I entered, it was in front of a live studio audience in a programming block with a teenage witch and a talking cat. So on this show I have flipped the script. I'm talking to interesting people about their childhoods, their pre adult existence where a crush felt like life and death and weekends just meant more time on the home phone or a few extra minutes polishing up that aim away message. There's only so many My Chemical Romance lyrics you can quote. I look at it like this. I gave you my childhood, it's time we heard yours. When the history books are written about the rise of reality tv, our grandchildren will start at chapter one, an analytical breakdown of the first foray in the docuseries format the Real World. But I'll be nearby, lounging in my rocking chair, popping Werther's originals and sipping on some Metamucil, laughing Ho, forget that textbook. Emanuel. Yeah, that's my grandchild's name. Emmanuel. I'll say. Sure, real world was first, but it didn't get good until 2009 because that's the true modern birth of Unscripted. It's the premiere of MTV's Jersey Shore. The Real World may have been the mole, but Jersey Shore was the traitors. It took the original formula and perfected it so that decades to come, we're now emulating the product of evolution. Influence becomes inspiration, imitation becomes innovation, and everything in between becomes became Italian. Only a handful of TV stars from the past two decades have affected the medium quite like my guest this week. She became the unforgettable scene stealing human Beanie Baby on the cultural phenomenon that is Jersey Shore. One of the few franchises that doesn't have Real Housewives in the title that continues to be a modern day cable tentpole. There's celebrity and then there's celebrity marked by things like most popular Halloween costume of the year or recurring impression on SNL. It would have been hard to find someone in 2010 who didn't know her name. Yet somehow she turned getting wasted in her 20s and the assumption of only having 15 minutes of fame into a full fledged empire. Transitioning into a mom of three, a multi time bestselling Author and a beloved entrepreneur. And now she's decided to share even more of her life with the public facing stage one cervical cancer and hoping her diagnosis can push those who grew up watching her to get those yearly checkups. I know the feeling. So this week, I am thrilled to welcome to Teen Beat a true story of perseverance. Nicole Pulidzi, professionally known as Snooki.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

That is the cutest intro I think I've ever heard.

[Danielle Fishel]

You are such a wonderful, inspirational person, and I'm so happy to talk to you. And I already complimented your hair, but I have to do it again. I think this is the cutest haircut.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Thank you. I mean, I definitely didn't do anything with it this morning. It was in a bun. I just put it down because the kids are home from spring break. I'm a mess over here, but thank you. Yeah, I wanted to do, like, a bob, but not too bobby.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

This is a bob for me because I've always had long hair and extensions, and I'm just over it. I'm too old to, like, take care of myself like that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Listen, I understand. I have also wanted a lob. Uh, but I'll can't seem to get myself to cut my hair anything shorter than, like, boob length.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So you'll get there and then you'll.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, great. Well, I. My instinct is to call you Snooki, but I also want to respect Nicole. So you tell me. I'm going to follow your lead. What do you like to be called?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I'll do both. I mean, I always said that Snooki is the brand. I feel like when I started to have kids, I was like, all right, like, I know, you know, doing these interviews and they're calling me Snooki, but I was like, kind of like in the transition of, like, Snooki's like, the party girl. And now I'm a mom, like, to a six month old. So I, like, I don't want to be known as a party girl anymore. But, like, party girl turned mommy.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I kind of was. I had a dilemma with it for a little bit, but now it's just like, whatever. Like Snooki, Nicole. It is what it is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right? So I want to talk to you about young Nicole. Before the Snooki brand, what were you like as a kid? Did you always have a big personality?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

When I was comfortable and cozy around people, I feel like I was super shy until I really hit, like, my teenage years, like, 13. But yeah, I was, like, shy to meet people. I was shy to like, get out there, meet new friends. So my mom really had to push me because I was, like, wrapped around my mom's leg all the time. Then I think once, you know, I hit, like, middle school and puberty, that's when I was like, okay, like, social butterfly. I want to hang out. And, you know, me, everybody. So I wasn't always outgoing and, like, bubbly how I seem.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, that's so interesting. I. I would often think that people would usually not blossom in maybe what a lot of people consider to be the most awkward years of adolescence, you know, like, 12, 13. And yet that's really when you felt like you found your stride in your personality. What do you think it was about that time of your life that just made your personality blossom?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I don't know. I grew up as an only child, so I was adopted, and I was just, like, attached at the hip to my mom. Like, anywhere we went, I was just like. I don't know. I just always wanted my mommy. I was. I was, you know, the only child, like, just wanting to be with her, her parents, all the time.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

But, like, once, you know, I was making friends and, you know, teenage years, you're starting to go to parties and, like, go out and do things, go to the mall with your friends. I was like, okay, Mom, I love you, but, like, I think I'm going to, you know, spread my wings and, you know, hang out with my friends now. So I think it was just that.

[Danielle Fishel]

What were you into as a kid? Did you have any specific toys that you loved?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Oh, my God. Pogs.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah, Pogs.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I got the Pog maker. So I made all my Pogs. Like, I made Instinct Pogs. Backstreet Boy Pogs. I still have them.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh. I love a boy band. Pog.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yes. And then Beanie Babies, of course. Of course Beanie Babies. I collected the Mary Kate and Ashley, like, all of their movies.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you still have your Beanie Babies?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I do, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you think being raised an only child gave you. I mean, you said, like, when you were really young, you were obsessed with your parents and maybe a little shy, but do you think that having that security of being an only child and being close to them for all your young years gave you any sort of, like, main character energy as a teenager?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yes, absolutely. Because when I met Jenny. So Jenny on the show. J. Wow. She's an only child, too. So once I started to, like, hang out with all the cast, like, everybody had siblings. Me and Jenny were the only one. So if it, like, wasn't about us or we weren't the number one. We were like, what's this? What is that? So it's kind of like we had to get used to, you know, having. Having siblings, literally when we all lived into the house, because it's like we're sharing things and it's not on our time and it's not our world. So, yes, it definitely just like a shock. Like, you know, when you're an only child, it's literally like you're spoiled. It's all about you. And. And then when you know you're living with other people, it's like, oh, my God. Like, I hate this. I want. I want it to be all about me and my space and being alone. So, yeah, it was definitely a shock to both of us. But I ended up, you know, eventually I ended up, like, getting a genealogist to, like, look at everything because it was a closed adoption. So my mom had, like, a certain amount of paper, and then she. She took that and, you know, found my birth family. So I do have one sister and one brother.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wow, okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So you have siblings.

[Danielle Fishel]

You do have siblings. Okay, you have a brother and a sister. Have you met your biological mother?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

No. So I'm. I'm still in the process of, like, doing everything, and I did everything on the show, you know, so, like, the fans can see it, and it's a huge thing for me. I never. I never thought that I wanted to do that. So I did every single process on the show of, like, meeting with the genealogist, her finding out the information, giving me the binder so I see what they look like and where they live. And the first. The furthest thing I got to was doing a phone call with them. So we started doing, like, a text, and it was through Facebook, because they're on Facebook. So I had a translator, and she had a translator. But then, like, the texting was like. It was just so hard. Yeah, like, call you so then you can hear our voice and it'd be easier. And then that was crazy because I didn't think I would get so emotional with hearing her voice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So that. That was crazy. And I think now the next step would be FaceTime and then eventually, you know, going to see her. But I don't know. We'll.

[Danielle Fishel]

We'll see what happens one step at a time.

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[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Honestly, I just booked my VRBO because there was a sweet wine fridge.

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Hey, we all have our reasons. Don't walk into a surprise if you know you VRBO terms apply. See vrbo.com trust for details. Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor supplier growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures [e-mail] Disclosures

[Kal Penn]

hey everyone, it's Cal Penn. I'm the host of Earsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary, Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.

[Ray Porter]

I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo yo yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that that deeply emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like oh my God, I cried at the End it's like, yeah, dude, me too.

[Kal Penn]

Listen to Irsay the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

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[Danielle Fishel]

You called yourself the Princess of Poughkeepsie, though you tech though you technically grew up in Marlboro. So may I suggest that you now adopt the mama of Marlboro?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I mean, yeah, I'll take Mama of Marlboro.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. I like that.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I literally. So I always went out in Poughkeepsie, and I feel like I didn't want to see Marlboro, like, where I was from, because it's just small town. No one's gonna know it on a map. And Poughkeepsie's, like, across the bridge across the river. So I always went there to, like, go out like that. That was like my nightlife. Like, going to the bars and the clubs, and everywhere I went, like, people knew, like, oh, here she is. Gonna be a crazy night. So, yeah, Princess of Poughkeepsie. Like, I thought that was so cool. Now I'm like, ugh.

[Danielle Fishel]

We all look back at our things we thought were very cool back then and cringe. Now. What did you do for fun as a kid in Marlboro? You were. Were you a cheerleader?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah. So I grew up on an apple orchard. So it's literally like all apples everywhere.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beautiful.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah. I graduated with, like, 120 kids, so it was a small town. But, like, I loved it and I miss it so much. I wish I could go back. But, yeah, I grew up, like, quadding. I grew up doing competitive gymnastics from, like, 5 to 12. And I did that for a while. And then, like, once I got older, I was like, this is too much. It's not fun anymore. It feels like work and feels like I don't want to be here anymore just because I knew, like, I got to the level and that was it. Like, I'm not elevating I was like scared to do the bars. I was only good at tumbling. The beam. I sucked. So I'm like, I'm not gonna get anywhere else, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

You didn't see a future for that?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I didn't see any future. I'm like, I hit my max. So then I was like, I still wanted. I love tumbling. I love, you know, doing all that. So let me try cheer. So my first year cheer was in sixth grade and you know, tried out for the cheer team, for the school. And I ended up just taking everything over. I was teaching people how to tumble. I was like the coach teaching people how to tumble. I made all the, the dances for like the pep rally. So I really fell in love with cheer. So I wish I did cheer from the beginning, but no. Competitive gymnastics, it's a beast.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it is. My cousin was a in competitive gymnastics and she was incredible. But it's also very hard on your body.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yes, very hard on your body. And I feel like it stunt my growth a little bit. But no, I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be small anyway.

[Danielle Fishel]

But yeah, I, I'm only. I. I actually just told somebody last night. I say I'm 5:1, but I'm pretty sure I've already shrunk at, you know, 44 years old. So I don't even think I'm a full 5 one yet.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, it happens. We're gonna shrink. We're gonna be like striken owners when we're old.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly. We're just gonna be so tiny. And now your daughter is following in your footsteps, right? You're a dance mom.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Way better.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, really?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So she actually does competitive cheer? I only did like school cheer. So it was like town cheer. You just show up to like the football games and you know, just cheer on the sideline. I didn't do all star cheer until I was like 20. And that was like an open cheer so you could be 18 to 40. And that's when I like did the back tuck basket tosses and all of that. And I loved it. But then I tried out for the show and then I just stopped doing it because I was busy with the show.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I always said if I had a daughter, I was gonna push her into cheer and if liked it, she liked it. If not, then, you know, we'll do something else. So I took her to an all star cheer gym at 3 and like had her run around. And ever since then she never left. So the gym has known her since she was 3. She's now going to be 12 soon. She's been there for years, and she's. She's killing it. She's way better than I ever was.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's amazing. And it's so smart that you were like, okay. You looked back on your own experience and thought, I wish I would have just started with cheer instead of going the gymnastics to cheer route. And so with her, you just, like, started there, and now she's got that foundation.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, she's awesome. She's incredible. She's everything that I wish I was growing up. And I'm just so proud of her. And she works hard. She's my little mini me, my best friend. And I mean, I'm hoping she continues it, like, forever, because now she has the talent to the point where, like, you can get, like, a little scholarship for cheer, because. Cheers. Like, a big thing in college now. So let's keep at it. Because you work so hard, like, don't quit.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly. Yes. Wow. That will be amazing. Imagine where does. Where. If you had to pick, like, your dream place for her to go to school, where would she go to college?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Oh, I haven't thought about it. I mean, obviously, my. My favorite team in college is Navarro.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

They're incredible. This year, they're insane. But that's only, like, a community college, so she would go there for, like, two years. Yeah, but, I mean, I don't want her to live my dream. I want her to go wherever she wants to go and live her life. But, like, I'm always like, keep with cheer.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Incredible. That is your sport. You work so hard for it. So, you know, whatever she wants to do, I'm gonna be a very proud mama.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is there anything different you do than maybe your parents did with you pertaining to being a cheer mom? Is there any, like, any sort of way you're raising your kids, where you go. I didn't love this when I was a kid. I'm gonna do it differently for my own.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, I think probably how strict they were because I wasn't comfortable talking to them about things. And if I was somewhere where I was uncomfortable and I called them and say, like, I had a few drinks and, you know, I was in high school. Like, I. I wasn't comfortable calling them because I knew they would scream at me. Like, I wasn't allowed to swear in the house. Like, they were very stressed. Like, even. Even when I was, like, 19, I would say a bad word in front of my mom, and she would be like, oh. And I'm like, oh, my God. Over. So that's why? On the show, I'm like, oh, my parents are really gonna see who I am now.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

The.

[Danielle Fishel]

The mask is off.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah. So. And I was 21, so I'm like, come on. So now raising my kids. I just want, like, full transparency. Like, you can come to me with anything. I'm not gonna scream at you. I'm not gonna yell at you. I'm gonna be there for you. Not. Not. Not necessarily. Like, I want to be just, like, friends, you know? But I. I am here for you, you know, for you to talk to me about uncomfortable things. I'm not going to be mad at you. I'm not going to yell at you. I'm just here to talk. But, like, also, if something does bother me, I won't yell at you in the moment, but then we're gonna have a serious conversation, and you might get in trouble. Yeah, a little bit.

[Danielle Fishel]

It doesn't mean there are no repercussions.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

But I don't want to be. I don't want them to be scared to tell me things, and that's how I felt with my parents, and I hated it. So I. I don't want that with my kids. So I'm trying to have an open communication with them about everything, and I think I'm doing a good job with that so far.

[Danielle Fishel]

Good, good. I'm happy to hear that you've talked about the origin of the name Snooki, that it's from the movie Save the Last Dance, and it's because you were the first in your friend group to kiss a boy. I want to hear all about this first kiss. How old were you? Who was the boy? Tell me all the deets.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I feel like I was 12 or 13. But it wasn't like a crazy kiss. It was just like a. Yeah, yeah. But my. So our. Our best movie was Save the Last Dance. At the moment. Like, we love say the Last Dance. It was the thing. And my best friend Katie, she. She decided to call me Snooki. And she was the only one that called me Snooki in my entire life, like, ever. Like, she would call me Snook. Like, she never called me Nick. So my friends call me Nick. Nick. Or Nicole. Like, she never. She never called me that. She always called me Snook. And on say the Last Dance, it's Snook the coochie crook. And I think I'm gonna call you that now because you're the first one to kiss a boy. I was like, okay, whatever. So she was the only one that Called me that in my entire life. So when I was doing the applications for Jersey Shore, they were really harping on, like, we want everybody to have a nickname. So they're like, does anybody call you, like, another name? And I'm like, oh, well, one of my best friends calls me Snooki. And then it just stuck. So.

[Danielle Fishel]

Unbelievable. How does Katie feel about that now?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

He's like, where's my paycheck, girl? Yeah. She's like, that is insane. I'm like, I know.

[Danielle Fishel]

That is so funny. So getting back to your first kiss. Who was the boy? And do you. Are you still. Have you ever talked to him again?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah. So the boy was in my grade. He was my first, like, real boyfriend. And then once we broke up because we were, you know, kids. Yeah, we were best friends in high school. We're still friends on Facebook. He's married. He has two kids, but he was, like, in. In high school, we had, like, core best friends of, like, guys and girls, and he was a part of it, and we just became best friends. So. Yeah, I'll still talk to this day.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's so cute. Did you know what you were doing? Did it just, like, what led up to the moment of the big kiss, like, was this was obviously your, you know, your first boyfriend. You're 12 or 13. So what does a boyfriend really mean at that. At that age? But leading up to that first kiss, are you nervous? Do you know what you're doing?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I remember we were at my friend's house, and he had, like, a little get together. So we were all in the basement, and everybody was in couples.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. You know, of course.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And then couples started kissing, and we were like, what do we do? We be doing this? So once he left, it was just like a peck goodbye. And then we were just like, we did it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Congratulations. Our first kiss. Check that box. Your skyrocket to fame is probably something that should be studied by historians. Jersey Shore was an overnight phenomenon, and you became a brand name immediately. When and how did you realize this was a big, big deal?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Well, it was crazy because when we shot the show, we had no idea what it was going to be called or what it was. I was just excited to, like, finally do reality because I always wanted to. I was a huge reality fan of, like, Real World Road Rules, and I just wanted to try it out, and I knew I was going to have fun and would love it. So we ended up doing it that summer. But then, like, a whole year went by and we didn't hear anything. So we Were like, were we awful? Yeah. Not like it. We're like, I guess we just did that for nothing. But, you know, it was fun. We had a free shorthouse and it was great. So then we started, you know, seeing the previews and it came out and just everybody was talking about it. And the fact that it was so controversial, like, everyone hated us off the bat, like, without even watching, I'm like, oh, my God. I was like, we're just here to have fun. Like, we're not trying to kill anybody. So the fact that it was controversial, I was like, okay, I think we have something here. And then I think once the episode aired where I got punched in the face, then everybody was talking about it, and then everyone started watching the show. And I think that's the episode that really got people talking and tuning in.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So, yeah, once I started going, because I used to work at the mall at Forever 21, and I would always go to, like, you know, the mall to, like, you know, see. See my old co workers and shop. And after that episode air, like, a few weeks later, I went to the mall to go shopping, like, thinking nothing of it, and I couldn't walk anywhere. People were like, oh, my God, you're that girl. And I was. There was a line to take pictures that I'm like, oh, my God. Like, is this my life now? Like, I can't go to my mall now. So once that happened, I was like, all right, things are definitely going to change.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, my whole life is different. I want to talk about that punch because it is one of those moments where I look at it now with a 2026 lens, and I can't believe it was pop culture fodder. Like, it is aggressive assault, Just a man cold cocking a woman. And it aired unedited, originally, then over and over again, but at that point, censored. Were you privy to anything with the process of them deciding to air it and how they were going to do it?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Well, mtv, I had a meeting with mtv and they were like, listen, we know this happened. What do you want us to do? Because we want you to be comfortable.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And at the moment, like, it was just so fresh. And I was still, like, traumatized over it. I was like, can you please, like, not air it, but, like, black it out, like, if you keep the audio, but, like, don't show it yet until, like, I'm over it. So they ended up airing it blacked out. And then eventually I was like, all right, it's fine. Like, you know, you can put it on the DVDs, and. Because it was DVDs, right? I was like, yeah, just put on the DVD and it's fine. Like, I'm over it. It's okay. So then it was on the DVDs and then everyone finally saw it. So I. I love the fact that, you know, the network was very respectful and, like, my feelings over it, because that was insane. And it took me, like, two years to get over it because it was so scary. But then it's just like, all right, like, I'm fine. Everything's fine. Like, it was a shitty situation and, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, I. Yeah, it's. It's very shocking. It's shocking to see. It's shocking that it happened. I. I mean, I can't believe it only took you two years to get over it. Did you have then a fear of, like, being in public spaces? Did you. Did you ever then have a fear of men?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

What was the.

[Danielle Fishel]

What was the immediate aftermath of that kind of trauma?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Not like a fear of men. But I feel like when I went out, I was more. I was more aware of my surroundings now. And, like, I was. I wasn't gonna, like, stick up for myself with men. Like, the whole point was he was stealing our shots. Yeah. And we ordered shots. He stole them. Ordered shots again. He took them by the fourth round of shots that we. I was ordering. And he took again without paying. We were paying. I was like, all right, man. Like, enough is enough. Yeah. So I think, you know, if that were to happen, I would just walk away instead of, like, speaking up and that, you know, it just changed how I went out a little bit. Like being around men and around people that I didn't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Who had. You spent a lot of time on the Jersey shore before the show aired, and how many novelty T shirts have you purchased over the years?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, so I grew up going to Point Pleasant, so that's like another. Another beach. It's probably, like, you know, 25 minutes from Seaside, and it's more, like family oriented.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I would go there with my mom and my best friend. We would go there for a couple nights. But then once I got older, like 18, 19, we would drive down to Seaside and stay in, like, the cheap seaside motels and, yeah, just enjoy the beach because that's like, where all the young kids went. So, yes, I did go before the show. And I was so excited that I was going to be in Seaside because I'm like, oh, my God, I'm with all my friends. I know where to go. Like all the hot spots. So I was super excited for that. And what about the shirt?

[Danielle Fishel]

How many novelty T shirts have you purchased over the years?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Oh, my God. Well, I would say stolen. Definitely stole some things.

[Danielle Fishel]

What's your favorite thing you've ever stolen

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

from down the shore or in general? I stole Crocodili. Yeah, the machine was open. I was like, oh my God, I want that. And Crocodile has been stolen. I kidnapped him.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. You kidnapped Crocodili. All right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, I don't think anyone knows that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Podcast exclusive. I love it. Make sure you have a tag now, like an air tag on Crocodili, because I do not want Crocodile to be stolen from you.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Nobody comes steal him now.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly. It's yours.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

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[Kal Penn]

hey everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm the host of Irsay the Audible and Iheart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.

[Ray Porter]

I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point, it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that that deeply, emotionally affected me. And I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like, oh, my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too.

[Kal Penn]

Listen to Hearsay, the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, so can we talk about Diff Eyewear for a second? Because I'm a little obsessed. They have the cutest sunglasses and prescription frames. And honestly, the vibe is like, whatever you're feeling that day, there is a pair for it. Chill day. Got you going out. Got you. And every purchase gives back, which I love. Go to diffiwear.com and define your style. That's diffiwear.com youm're welcome.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Taking care of yourself can feel impossible.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

That's why Premier protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar, and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness. It's for getting afterlife. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite [e-mail]. that's P R E M I E R protein.com.

[Danielle Fishel]

So this cast, you are thrown into it honestly, very much the same way I was, you know, thrown into a cast on Boy Meets World. And you're like, okay, now go be family. How many of the Jersey Shore cast members would have been your actual friends in real life had you met out in the street instead of just on the show?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

First impressions or. Well, walking into the house right away I was like, what is this Vinnie guy doing here? He's not a guido. Like, he's boring, and he looks like a wannabe rapper. Like, who is that, Wally? Right away I was like, yep. I would hang out with you, Ronnie. Yep. Mike maybe. Because every. We all had the same look except Vinnie. Right. So I would say everybody in the house except Vinnie stuck out like a sore thumb. We were like, what are you doing here?

[Danielle Fishel]

Obviously, a lot of that first season centered around drinking. Had you been a big drinker before the show?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yes. I loved going out. I love having fun. And, yeah, that was the first summer that I was legally 21.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I was like, I'm going out. I was like, I just broke up with my boyfriend. I was, like, sad at the time. So I was like, I'm gonna go out and enjoy myself. And I'm young and, yeah, I was. I was ready to go.

[Danielle Fishel]

That summer, did you ever feel out of control with your drinking and what is your relationship with alcohol like now?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

No, I never thought it was, like, a problem. Just because I was so young and we were all doing it, and when I was, like, tired, I rested. I was like, I'm not gonna force myself. I don't feel like drinking today. Like, I'm gonna take it easy. So I never thought it was a problem. It was just like going out and partying and having fun. And now, I mean, of course, I still like my cocktails, but Mommy, Mommy, Judy's are first. And I plan. I plan my life first. And then I'm like, okay, so, like, for instance, if. So tomorrow I have a flight and I have to go to work for a couple days. And, you know, knowing that I have to do that, like, I'm not gonna have a glass of wine tonight for dinner. I'm not gonna do that if I know I have something to do the next day or like that week. I just, you know, I don't have anything. So I'm a social drinker now. If I go out, absolutely. Martinis, some wine. But, like, if I'm just hanging out at the house, like, no, there's no drinking. I have no desire to do it. I think it's more of just a social thing now.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

You know, when I'm out for dinner or out with my mom, friends, or, you know, on dates with Gianni. It's more of like a social thing now. But I do like my martinis. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that for you. Thinking about the fact that you have kids now. Your oldest is almost 12, right?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

13.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wow. Almost 13. Wow. How much do your kids know about your history, your fame? Do they know about the punch? Like, how much do they know about what you are known for?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Well, my two oldest, Lorenzo's 13, Giovanna's 11 and then six. So Angelo knows nothing. Like, he'll see me sometimes when I put the TV on like that, the. The Fire 6 screen. Sometimes the show will pop up on Paramount. He's like, mom, that's you. And I'm like, I know, honey. Like, that's mommy's job. Because he hates when I work and he doesn't understand what my work is. Right. So I'm like, when mommy leaves for. For work, like, that's what I'm doing. I'm on tv. And he's like, how do you get into the tv? It's like, yep. So now he understands. Like, you know, when mommy goes to work, she's going to be on TV eventually. But my oldest, you know, 13, all of his friends, you know, watch Jersey Shore now. I feel like now the kids, they see clips on TikTok. They see clips on Jersey Shore, like, TikTok, like, all the crazy scenes, and then they start binging the show. So it's like, I feel like the show is never going to die because, like, the younger generations just keep watching it, and then they fall in love, you know? So Lorenzo, I don't know how much he's seen, but, I mean, he's seen enough to be like, what was that? I just tell him that was scripted. Yeah. And they told me to do that, and it's not real.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that. That's very smart, actually.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I'll be like, yeah, honey, that was Mommy before you, and don't do what I did.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mentioned SNL in the opening. Bobby Moynihan played you a few times. What did you think of that at the time?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Awesome. I was like, oh, my God, snl. Like, we made it. We did it. And I never got offended. I don't know. I just feel like I was always comfortable in my own skin, and I knew I was crazy and dramatic. So when people made fun of me, I'm just like, I made it like, south park thing. I was like a big fat rat. And the whole episode was based on me. And growing up, I was a huge south park fan.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

I was like, oh, my God, I

[Danielle Fishel]

got my own episode.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So insane. And then, yeah, snl. Bobby. Bobby kept doing it. And then for New Year's one year, we did a skit together. Huh. And it was just awesome. It just. It. It made me feel great about myself.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, good.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, good.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. One of the things that I love so much is that that anonymous email you and jwoww wrote to Sam about Rani kissing another girl lives in meme. Infamy. I will always remember the line. Also was grinding with multiple fat women. Did you ever expect that would be a thing that 20 years later people would still obsess over?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

No. And everyone's always like, oh, the producers told you to do that? That was all our idea. So we wanted. So we were friends with Ron and Sam at the moment. And I didn't. We didn't want Ron to hate us for, like, ratting him out, but also, like, sam's our girl. Like, what are you doing? So we didn't want to cause drama. We wanted to make it anonymous. So in the house, we're not allowed electronics. We're not allowed to go to a computer and print something. We can't even write anything. There's no pens and paper. Like, all communication has to be face to face.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I went to the producer and I'm like, listen, Sam needs to know this, but, like, we don't want Ron to kill us. So are we able to, like, go to, like, a cafe and, like, print something and just anonymously leave it for her? Yeah. And we knew eventually, like, you know, the cameras were following us. We knew eventually that she was going to find out it was us. But we had, like, a good two years.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Until she would find out in the air. So, yeah, that was all our idea because we just didn't want. We don't want Ron to hate us. But now looking back at it, I would have been like, ron, you're freaking idiot. Like, why would you do that? And, like, Sam, what happened? So, yep, yeah, I would do things way differently now, but, like, in the moment, I mean, we were living in that house for like a month and a half together, and me and Jenny did not want the drama in the moment.

[Danielle Fishel]

I remember those feelings of being a teen and being friends with both people and it being very clear one of them is in the wrong, but you still don't want to rat on that person. Like, you have a sense of loyalty to them and you feel like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place of like, well, I want my friend to know who she's dating. But also, like, like, I'm still friends with that guy. So it's funny because now, in hindsight, I feel exactly the same way. I'm like, no, you're the one who's screwing up. I'm gonna just say the truth. But at the time, it's a very big deal to make that decision.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah. And we knew nobody was gonna tell her, and we weren't even there to witness it. Everyone else was telling us. So I'm like, I feel awful for her. Like, you know, they're totally fine, but she has no idea what's going on and no one's telling her. So, yeah, we did the best that we could in the moment, but we had no idea that it was going to blow up.

[Danielle Fishel]

The way that it did and people still talking about it this many years later, you are still working with these former roommates 20 years later. The final Jersey Shore vacation season will air in May. You guys have all been through so much together. How do you explain your feelings for these friends of yours that you've known for so long?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Oh, my God. They're literally my brothers and sisters, like, best friends. I'm sure you can relate. It's just like, something that no one will ever understand. But you guys, it's just like, have these memories and going through things and your life changing overnight, and only we know about it and how, you know, it's just. It's just our memories and it's our memory. So, yeah, it's kind of like. It's kind of like that. And we'll always have each other, and we're literally best friends. We talk every single day. We have our group chat, and I think we'll be best friends forever, you know, and even though this is our final season, so this is, I think, season nine. I don't know. We filmed. We filmed this season that's airing in May, like a year and a half ago. So I don't even remember where we were, what we did. But, yeah, it's going to be the final season on mtv because, you know, networks change and they rebrand, they do different things. So I'm blessed, you know, that we had all those years on MTV. We've been with them since 2009.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So reality shows don't really stay that long. So, you know, we are blessed that we had all those years, you know, with mtv. But we knew eventually, you know, we were going to end up, you know, not doing the show on MTV and going somewhere else. Yeah. So, yeah, I think the transition now, because we're definitely not done filming, and we always film until we're in nursing homes, like, killing each other.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that Jersey Shore retirement home, literally.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And I feel like the fans will still watch it. It. So now we're just figuring out, you know, what our next move is, the next show, where we're gonna go. So, yeah, we still. We still have a lot to offer with our show, but, yeah, it's the final season and it's. It's bittersweet.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Well, it's the final season in this iteration, I'm sure. I can't wait to see what you guys continue to do next.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

The next chapter.

[Danielle Fishel]

I reached out to you privately around the time of your cancer diagnosis, knowing firsthand. It is quite a journey. And you face a wide array of emotions. So I wanted to ask you, how are you feeling now? And where are you in the journey of dealing with a new diagnosis?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, no, I definitely appreciate you reaching out. That made me feel nice and cozy because I know you've been through a lot of stuff. It was definitely scary. And I feel like it's a very common thing that no one really talks about because I was freaking out. Like, oh, my God, like, what is this? I never. I never heard of this. Like, what am I to expect? Like, what do I do? And then, of course, I went on tick tock and I put in cervical cancer.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And so many tick tocks of women. Like, this is what happened. And I had to do this and I had to do that, and now I'm fine. And, like, no one talks about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

So I'm like, you know what? Eventually when I get comfortable talking about this, I'm gonna make a tick tock and just be like, listen, no one's talking about this. This is what I'm going through. Everything's gonna be fine. I. But, like, get your pap smears, get your checkups. Because what happened to me was I always had this, but it was never precancerous or it was never, like, scary. My doctor was just always like, you have to come every six months so we can keep an eye on it and make sure nothing happens. Because you're supposed to go, like, every one to two years, I think. But, like, I had to go every six months because there was always abnormalities. Yeah. And my test. But then, like, I would go every six months and he would say, you have to come back to do, like, more. And it's just so uncomfortable. And I hated it, and it hurt. And I just. I didn't see him for two years and I ignored him. And I was like, I'll be fine. It's all right. And then he ended up. He ended up calling me and, you know, left voicemails, like, you really need to get in here. Like, we have to stay on top of this to make sure nothing happens. I was like, all right. So then I would go to, like, the appointment, and he would see pre cancerous cells, and I would have to go back. So that's when it started.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And I was like, that's fine. So then I didn't see him for another year. So then the doctor's office is like, sending me letters. Like, you have to schedule your appointment. Like, what are you doing? And I don't know. I think I was just like, I didn't want there to be an issue or I didn't want to deal with it, so I ignored it. But then also, like. Like, I hated going to it. Like, it's just uncomfortable and it's not fun, and just being a woman is not fun at all. Yep. When it comes to appointments and your body and babies, and it's just not easy, and it's scary. So I just put it in the back of my mind. And then eventually, my doctor. And this is the doctor who, like, birthed all my three kids. Like, I've known him for years. He's like, you have to get your ass in here.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Screaming. And I'm like, oh, my God. So that's when I went in, and then I had to. Then he was like, there's severe precancerous cells. Like, you have to come back for a colposcopy. And I'm like, great. So I just. I scheduled the appointments. I went in, he did it. Which is very uncomfortable, by the way, because they don't give you any pain meds or anesthesia.

[Danielle Fishel]

And it says. It's literally a scraping of your cervix. Right? Oh, like a biopsy?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yeah, it's a chunk of biopsy on both sides. So I was like, oh, my God. That's very uncomfortable. So did that. Biopsy came back. Hi. You have cancer. So let's. So let's do the. Then I did the comb biopsy. Okay. So that was, like, a couple weeks later where I had to get put under. And then he put, like, a. He. He took out a cone shape with a knife where. Where all, like, the real cancerous cells were, like, at the top of my cervix. So the next step I did was the PET scan to see if, like, spread to my lymph nodes, because I guess I have the. The cancer where it goes to your lymph nodes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And that was good. That was good. Spread anywhere, which is good, because now I don't need, you know, chemo. Yep. Next step is just to get the hysterectomy, and then hopefully everything is good. So I. I still have to get that done. I've just been so crazy with work and traveling and. Yeah, everyone's yelling at me, so screw work. Like, you need to keep your health first. But I'm like, I know, but these dates are already scheduled. And I'm like, it's very hard to shut down production. Yeah. You know what I mean? And it's in another country, and I'm just trying to get it Done. So yeah, eventually I will get the hysterectomy and everything will be good to just where I have to like go to the appointments and make sure I'm okay. Yeah. You know, like the follow ups and everything because it's always going to be in my body. But the good thing is that I caught it early and it's very common. And yeah, now like my PSA is just like, do your, do your appointments, don't do what I did and wait and let it fester. I mean, stress makes it worse. Like, try not to be stressed and just go to your appointments and get it done. Because I was an idiot and ignored my doctor for like two years.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I, I remember that was one of my PSAs as well because I, I knew I was so happy I didn't ignore my app because in hindsight, don't you look back and think, as annoying as those doctor's appointments were, having a hysterectomy is 10 times more annoying. Now you've got to schedule that.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Like now I'm terrified. But I heard it's like, it's easy breezy and it's not terrible. I think it was more of a shock that like, oh, wow, like I can never have kids again. Like I'm, I'm done. Like, I don't want any more kids. Right. But the fact that knowing that I don't have that, I think that's where I had like the mental breakdown. Like, I don't know, like I'm gonna feel like less of a mom or a woman. I don't know. I had really, really weird thoughts and crying shower about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

There are definitely strong emotions attached to all sorts of things that have to do with our health. And you know, like you said. Yeah. It's like having that choice taken away from you is a different feeling than just knowing you're done having kids on your own volition.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Yeah, I get that. Has opening up about your diagnosis publicly overall been a positive experience for you? Have you felt the love from people?

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Yes. I'm like, oh my God, if I ever pass away, all these people are just going to be so sad because I had no idea how many people like loved me and reached out to me. Even like people that I haven't talked to in years, like, they wrote me like these beautiful text messages and I just felt really loved. Loved. Which was great because that, you know, that made me feel good. But yeah, I think, you know, the more of people like, like fans and like random people. DMing me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

And saying, hey, I work at a gynecologist office. And we got so many calls because of your video. Thank you so much. So, like, everyone was just booking their appointments. I'm like, thank you. Like, that was. That was the whole point of why I was explaining my journey and what was going on. So I'm glad it worked. Yes. And everyone there, you know, everyone's booking their scans. Yeah. No, the fact that, like, I'm still getting DMs with people. Like, I finally went to my scan and now I'm going through what you're going through. They caught it early. And, yeah, I'm getting a lot of those messages and I'm like, you got this. Like, I'm the biggest scaredy cat in the world. I do not like pain. I don't like anything. So the fact that I'm just going and getting this done, like, you could do it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that. I love it. I'm not letting Snooki get off that easy. She's sticking around for a bonus episode, dropping the this Friday, where we will hear a listener's awkward childhood story and get to know more about our newly crowned mama of Marlboro. Make sure you are subscribed to Teen Beat wherever you get your podcasts. That way you're on top of all of our new releases, and I'd love to hear your tales of terror. Just record a voice memo of your most embarrassing story and send it to teenbeatpodmail.com and I just might play it in a future episode. Teen Beat is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbaksh. The theme song is by Mark Hoppus. Yes, that Mark Hoppus. Follow us on Instagram eenbeatpod.

[Kal Penn]

Hey, everyone, it's Kalpen. I'm inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with my podcast, Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Every episode, I nerd out with amazing guests and dive into the best new audiobooks available on Audible. It's the book club for your ears. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. Laundry stinks. Literally. I mean, you could just keep buying new underwear. Not that I've ever done that. Or maybe sort your clothes into piles based on how re wearable or filthy they are. Or just use arm and hammer. Deep clean it's made for real life stinks and stains. So even if you don't do laundry, the quote right way Deep Clean will knock it out. I mean, it is from the number one liquid detergent brand that tackles more loads than any other. Come clean with arm, arm and hammer. Deep clean number one claim based on total wash loads sold.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

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[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

Watch us.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

They set standards, broke records, empowered people to build bigger and higher, to dig deeper, to. To make the impossible possible. We've all been there with doubters telling us what we can't do. Who cares what they think? We don't need their permission or forgiveness. We just get things done. So go ahead and doubt me. Judge me, challenge me. But when the time comes, watch me. Bobcat.

[Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Danielle Fishel]

Guaranteed Human.