Tell Me Lies: Official Podcast – “It’s Absolute Chaos”
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Stassi Schroeder
Guests: Grace Van Patten (Lucy), Jackson White (Stephen), Katie Maloney
Episode Overview
The premiere episode of Season 3’s official Tell Me Lies podcast, hosted by Stassi Schroeder, plunges into the aftermath of the explosive season opener. Stassi is joined by stars Grace Van Patten (Lucy), Jackson White (Stephen), and Bravo-vet Katie Maloney, offering fans a heady mix of recaps, personal reflections, behind-the-scenes secrets, and juicy “would you rather” games. The conversation is playful, candid, and occasionally therapeutic as the cast shares insights into their characters’ twisted dynamics, off-screen friendships, and how the show mirrors their own 20-something experiences.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Recap of the Episode & Current Storylines
[00:01–02:25]
- The main arcs covered:
- Brie listens to a message from Stephen at her wedding, calls herself a “terrible person.”
- Flashback to 2009: Stephen punishes Evan for the Lucy affair.
- Wrigley grieves his brother; Pippa is emotionally drained.
- Stephen and Lucy rekindling sparks discomfort—even in themselves.
- Oliver snubs Brie, setting up more drama.
- Group party scene involving MDMA, with consequences and confessions.
- Relationship chaos crescendos back at the wedding, where faces mask misery.
Cast Chemistry and Off-Screen Dynamics
[02:25–05:25]
- Stassi and Grace’s mutual fangirling:
“Grace, I’m obsessed with you.” — Stassi Schroeder [02:47]
“You are my biggest inspiration for Lucy.” — Grace Van Patten [03:05] - Grace cites Stassi and her infamous Vanderpump relationship as inspiration for Lucy and Stephen’s dynamic.
- Jackson teases the similarities between his off-screen persona and his morally questionable character, prompting jokes about overcompensating to seem nice.
“Would You Rather” Game: Cast Edition
[04:30–07:06]
- Reveals personal quirks:
“We’ll scroll through movies for as long as a movie would take.” — Jackson White [04:48]
- On lying vs. being lied to:
“Being lied to is, like, so scary for me. That’s like, number one.” — Grace Van Patten [05:46] “Same thing... You don’t want to be lied to.” — Jackson White [06:40]
- Jackson credits Grace for making him more honest:
“Grace is a truth seeker and it forces you to f---ing be on the ground and really, like, be thoughtful and communicative.” — Jackson White [06:10]
Lucy & Stephen: Alternate Realities & Misunderstood Characters
[07:11–11:44]
- Grace and Jackson imagine meeting in college: “We would have been like, running buddies. We’re both really stubborn.” (Jackson White [09:00])
- Stassi admits to thinking Stephen is “the most misunderstood character,” with both actors agreeing he’s more complex than he appears.
- Jackson on Stephen’s private life:
“He’s cleaning meticulously... It’s a lot more simple and eerie than you’d think. He’s reading, always on the phone, always on the move. He just can’t sit still.” — Jackson White [11:16]
Inside Lucy’s Head & Chemistry Scenes
[11:50–13:47]
- Grace sees Lucy as “sitting and feeling so much shame and... guilt and not doing anything about it.” [11:59]
- Both actors relish the intensity of their scenes together:
“My favorite thing of this show is getting nose to nose with Grace... metaphorically and going there.” — Jackson White [13:05]
- The MDMA club scene: actors confirm how much fun it was to play, crediting their shared acting style.
Relationship Parallels: TV & Real Life
[15:06–18:06]
- The actors bond over reality TV, with Jackson newly hooked on Real Housewives at Grace’s urging.
- Stassi discusses how watching herself back on Vanderpump Rules changed her self-awareness:
“I learned about myself through every relationship I had on that reality show.” [16:53]
- Jackson pushes for accountability in failed relationships:
“Do you ever go like, what did I do? What’s going on with me?” — Jackson White [17:41]
- Discussion of growing up on reality TV and its impact: “Yours was televised. That’s the part that’s crazy.” — Jackson White [18:46]
On Authenticity vs. Performance
[19:09–19:35]
- Grace admires Stassi’s ability to be herself on screen:
“That’s what I think is so cool, is that you’re not changing. Cause cameras are in front of you.” — Grace Van Patten [19:09]
- Jackson underscores reality shows as the ultimate study for naturalistic acting.
Deep Dive: Season 3, Episode 1 Explosive Moments
[20:26–27:30]
Breaking Down Stephen & Lucy’s Toxic Loop
- The podcast analyses how Stephen never takes responsibility:
“He never takes accountability. He always finds a way to blame it on someone else. And Lucy, unfortunately, is convinced by that.” — Grace Van Patten [22:10]
- On Lucy’s hope for change:
“It’s sad that she still has hope that this could be a relationship that could be remotely good.” — Grace Van Patten [24:23]
- Stassi’s exasperation:
“The bare minimum of a relationship is just to be nice to each other. It’s true.” — Stassi Schroeder [25:04]
The Wedding Tension
- Grace on Lucy’s emotional rollercoaster walking down the aisle:
“She’s terrified... What is he about to do? Which puts her right back into her college years... When she sees him with Lydia, it’s like relief; he’s here, he’s the same exact guy.” — Grace Van Patten [25:34–26:36]
Tease for Season 3
- “It’s absolute chaos. You see everyone face consequences which they haven’t really faced before. And it’s nothing what you would expect.” — Grace Van Patten [26:52]
Katie Maloney Segment: Fan & Friendship Parallels
[27:31–39:01]
Tell Me Lies & Vanderpump Rules – The Mirror
- Katie and Stassi draw direct lines between their own messy twenties and Lucy’s friend group at Baird.
- Both reflect on which Tell Me Lies characters they most resemble, with Stassi saying she “was Lucy, graduated to Diana” [29:33].
More “Would You Rather”
- Debate: Would you rather date Steven for a year knowing he’s trash, or have Lucy as a roommate who steals your crushes?
“I’ll date Steven. He’s hot, no problem.” — Katie Maloney [31:01] “So Steven, date the hot dog. Katie Maloney wants to date Steven from Tell Me Lies.” — Stassi Schroeder [31:40]
- On which character they relate to the most:
“Lucy does frustrate me... I feel like she always... has good intentions, but she just fucks things up.” — Stassi Schroeder [33:09]
“Terrible execution. I relate to that.” — Katie Maloney [33:16]
Predictions & Relationship Analysis
- The duo dissects key moments (Bri’s guilt, Steven’s endless anger), and make predictions about Bri/Evan, Pippa/Diana, and the likelihood of any couple lasting.
“This is the kind of will-they-won’t-they story that I hate. I am rooting against these people so hard.” — Katie Maloney [37:59]
Notable Quotes
- “Grace is a truth seeker and it forces you to f---ing be on the ground and really, like, be thoughtful and communicative.” — Jackson White [06:10]
- “The bare minimum of a relationship is just to be nice to each other.” — Stassi Schroeder [25:04]
- “It’s absolute chaos. You see everyone face consequences which they haven’t really faced before.” — Grace Van Patten [26:52]
- “Yours was televised. That’s the part that’s crazy.” — Jackson White [18:46]
- “I just risked the biscuit and this is what I get for it.” — Katie Maloney [36:08]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Episode Recap: [00:01–02:25]
- Cast Banter on Chemistry & Characters: [02:25–05:25]
- “Would You Rather” Game: [04:30–07:06]
- Lucy/Stephen - Off and On Relationship Analysis: [07:11–11:44]
- Behind the Scenes & Acting Styles: [13:03–13:47]
- Reality TV/Personal Reflections: [15:06–19:57]
- Deep Dive: Wedding & Manipulation: [20:26–27:30]
- Katie Maloney’s Fan Segment: [27:31–39:01]
Tone & Style
The episode is lively, open-hearted, and loaded with dark humor—mirroring both Tell Me Lies's youthful chaos and the self-aware reflections of a cast and host who know what it’s like to be messy in the public eye. Grace and Jackson dig deep into their characters’ pathology, while Stassi and Katie make sharp, sometimes brutal assessments that will resonate with fans who see themselves—or their exes—in the Baird crowd.
Closing Thoughts
For those who haven’t watched, this episode is a crash course in Tell Me Lies’s potent blend of romantic disaster, codependency, and generational growing pains—all dissected by people who’ve lived it both on and off screen. With cast confessions, sharp fan analysis, and plenty of '90s/2000s nostalgia, it’s a mix of fun and therapy, just like the show itself.