Vault: Holly Madison Interview

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bert Show – "Vault: Holly Madison Interview" (May 22, 2026)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show features a candid interview with Holly Madison, former star of The Girls Next Door and Las Vegas performer. The hosts dive into her life post-Playboy Mansion, focusing on her career, her time with Hugh Hefner, relationships within the Mansion, and her new ventures—including her spinoff reality show and personal projects. The episode’s vibe is playful yet sometimes irreverent, reflecting The Bert Show’s real-and-funny morning tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holly’s Life in Las Vegas

• Holly currently lives in a suite at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, where she stars in the burlesque show "Peepshow" (01:46-01:54).
• Contrary to the flashy reputation, locals (even herself) rarely hit the Strip except for work or special occasions.
  • “When you live here full time, you don’t really go out every night… Otherwise, you wouldn’t get anything done.” – Holly (02:10)
• The community can feel like a small town, despite being in a bustling city (02:50).

2. Thoughts on ‘The Girls Next Door’ and Hugh Hefner

• Holly is asked about Hefner’s new girlfriends, revealing she doesn’t know them all, especially "Crystal," but recognizes the twins due to previous work (03:09).
• The hosts directly probe how one becomes Hefner’s girlfriend and how the selection process works.
  • Holly clarifies it’s more about naturally bonding with the group, not an explicit "selection" (03:53-04:04).
  • On becoming Hef’s "number one," she says: “I was there the longest.” (04:26)
• On her unique relationship with Hefner: “Yeah, we got along really well. Definitely.” (04:34)
• On post-breakup friendship: Holly says there’s effort to maintain amicability, but jealousy from the girlfriends—not from Hefner—can make things "a little strange" (04:39-04:57).

3. Addressing Tacky Questions

• The hosts, true to their on-air reputation, broach the infamous question about intimacy with an elderly Hefner.
  • Holly politely but firmly dodges the topic: “That is not a question I would answer.” (05:33)
  • When pressed, she retorts: “Well, would you ask anybody else on the show if they had sex with their boyfriend?” (05:50)
  • The hosts admit the show's style is to ask such bold questions to everyone (05:54).
  • Holly notes she’s been asked before, but "not very often" (06:10).

4. Mansion Life and Hefner’s Availability

• Holly likens life at the Mansion to a "big sorority house," saying she enjoyed being surrounded by friends (06:41-06:45).
• She clarifies that while living at the Mansion, Hefner was usually busy with work during the day; daily activities with him were limited (06:27-06:41).

5. New Show and Professional Development

• A fan calls in to ask about Holly’s new reality show. Holly explains it revolves around new Vegas friends and the cast of Peepshow, with storylines different from her past LA-based years (07:00-07:44).
  • “It’s the same producers as Girls Next Door… but set in Vegas, so there’s a lot of new things to do and new plot lines.” – Holly (07:37)
• She is not involved in editing but gives input on stories or special moments (07:48-08:01).
• When asked if she worries some will never take her seriously as a businesswoman, Holly admits some judge her based on Playboy origins but asserts: “I seem to be getting everything I want done anyway, so it’s all right… I don’t really care.” (08:11)

6. Holly’s Book Club & Personal Interests

• She features a monthly book on her website and enjoys recommendations from fans on Twitter. The Madonna biography was most popular among her followers so far (08:27-08:53).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vegas Lifestyle:
  “I live in Planet Hollywood. I love living here because it’s like living in a small town, but yet you have everything to do that you would want to do in a big city.” – Holly (02:50)

• On Her Playboy Days:
  “I was there the longest.” – Holly (on being Hef’s main girlfriend) (04:26)
  “No, absolutely not. He’s really cool… It’s just like, I don’t know, it’s the girls. It’s not him.” – Holly (on Hef being jealous of her boyfriend) (05:00)

• Handling Tactless Questions:
  “That is not a question I would answer.” – Holly (05:33)
  “Melissa, you’re being a tool.” – Radio Co-host (following Holly’s lead, playfully scolding a host) (06:16)

• On Shaking Off Critics:
  “There will be some people out there who don’t [take me seriously], but I don’t really care.” – Holly (08:18)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:31 – Holly Madison joins the show
• 01:54 – Holly describes "Peepshow" and living in Vegas
• 03:09 – Discussion of new Playboy girlfriends
• 03:34 – How one goes from meeting Hefner to being a girlfriend
• 04:26 – Holly on being Hef’s “number one”
• 05:17 – Probing about intimacy with Hugh Hefner
• 06:41 – “Mansion as a sorority house” and Hef’s availability
• 07:00 – Call-in question about her new show
• 08:11 – People’s perceptions of her as a businesswoman
• 08:27 – Holly’s book club
• 09:10 – Holly plugs her E! special

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Tone & Dynamics

The episode blends playful banter with moments of pointed (sometimes awkward) questions. Holly remains gracious and composed, even when navigating uncomfortable inquiries about her past with Hugh Hefner. The hosts maintain their signature cheeky tone, but also express genuine curiosity about Holly’s personal growth and her ventures beyond the Mansion.

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Summary by The Bert Show Podcast Summarizer

Transcript

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[Radio Host Melissa]

The Bird show. All right. Wendy knows more about girls next door than the rest of us do. And Holly Madison is joining us this morning. Hey, Holly.

[Holly Madison]

Hey. How are you?

[Radio Host Melissa]

Good. How are you today?

[Holly Madison]

I'm great. Just waking up.

[Radio Host Melissa]

You must be out on in California.

[Radio Co-host]

Vegas?

[Holly Madison]

No, I'm in Vegas, but same time zone.

[Radio Co-host]

Are you still doing the peep show?

[Holly Madison]

Yes.

[Radio Host Melissa]

What is the peep show?

[Holly Madison]

Peep show is this awesome burlesque show at Planet Hollywood that I star in.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Okay. On any given night in Vegas, what time do you get to sleep?

[Holly Madison]

Like two usually.

[Spinquest Promoter]

Really?

[Radio Host Melissa]

That's like that seems to me like that would be the early. That's the Atlanta equivalent of nine o' Clock at night.

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, it's pretty. It's pretty early for Vegas. When you live here full time, you don't really go out every night. You just kind of pick and choose and maybe go out like one one night a week or so. Otherwise you wouldn't get anything done.

[Radio Host Melissa]

My dad lives outside of Vegas in Henderson, and he's lived there for 10 years, and he's only been to the Strip one time.

[Radio Co-host]

Really?

[Radio Host Melissa]

Yes. Like, if you live.

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, I mean, I live on the Strip, obviously, but a lot of locals who are born and raised here, they don't even come to the Strip.

[Radio Co-host]

It's almost like any city, I think, you know, where you're really not a tourist in your own town, you know, but you'll. You will other places. But you think Vegas would be hard not to.

New Yorkers who never go to Manhattan, right?

Yeah.

Or Atlantans who never come inside the perimeter.

Do you live in a big fancy hotel in Vegas?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, I live in Planet Hollywood. I love living here because it's like living in a small town, but yet you have everything to do that you would want to do in a big city.

[Radio Co-host]

Well, I want to get your take on the new girls next door because Hugh's new number one girlfriend looks exactly like you, in my opinion, and kind of acts like you. What do you think of the new girls?

[Holly Madison]

You know, the Crystal? I don't even know. I know the twins because I worked on their Playmate pictorial, but I don't know Crystal at all.

[Radio Host Melissa]

How do you. I got so many questions more about you, Hefner, than anything else. And I know I'm gonna be walking the line attacky here probably. So if I step over the line, just say, hey, you're being a tool. But when. How do you go from tool?

[Radio Co-host]

Oh, that was for her.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Yeah. How do you go from meeting Hugh Hefner to being Hugh Hefner's lover? Like, what happens there? Do his people say, look, he was really involved or interested in getting involved with you, or is there one on one interaction? Or how does that work?

[Holly Madison]

It's more like you hang out with other girls and make friends with them, I find.

[Radio Host Melissa]

But then is it like he is. Does he come into a room and he just starts to select women that he wants to be more intimate with?

[Holly Madison]

No, it's more like just having fun, hanging out as a group and stuff.

[Radio Host Melissa]

But at one point, you break off because it's. It's you and the rest of the girls. So how does that happen?

[Holly Madison]

Well, it's just like, whoever gets along and has fun and stuff like that would be who would live at the

[Radio Co-host]

house and how do you go up from this big group to being the number one?

[Holly Madison]

I was there the longest.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Well, there had to be something special with you that he didn't have with the other girls.

[Radio Co-host]

Obviously liked you more.

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, we got along really well. Definitely.

[Radio Co-host]

Are you guys still friends?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah. I mean, it's kind of hard, though, because when he has the new girlfriends, like, sometimes jealousy gets up in there and, you know, I don't want to, like, nitpick every single little drama. That's not what my life's about anymore. So sometimes things get a little strange, but it's what it is.

[Radio Co-host]

Is he also jealous of your new boyfriend?

[Holly Madison]

No, absolutely not. He's really cool. He's always, like, really cool with, you know, his ex girlfriends. You know, he wants to be friends, and he always want everybody to be happy and things like that. So it's not that at all. It's just like, I don't know, it's the girls. It's not him.

[Radio Co-host]

How many times in a day do you get asked what it's like to sleep with an elderly man?

[Holly Madison]

Never.

[Radio Co-host]

Never.

What's it like to sleep with an elderly man?

[Holly Madison]

I don't know.

[Radio Host Melissa]

You and Hugh never got intimate in that way?

[Holly Madison]

That is not a question I would answer.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Hey, I'm trying to think of a way to rephrase it. Well, I mean, obviously, if you guys. I mean, you were his girlfriend. I mean, you guys were in a serious, serious relationship, so it has to be assumed that you were getting intimate with him.

[Holly Madison]

Well, would you ask anybody else on the show if they had sex with their boyfriend?

[Radio Host Melissa]

Definitely.

[Radio Co-host]

Yes.

Yeah, that's kind of the kind of show we have.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Definitely would. In fact, Jack told us this morning he had sex with his wife last night.

[Radio Co-host]

I had sex last night.

I said I had sex last night. I didn't say who else was around

me or if anybody.

[Radio Host Melissa]

I can't believe that question has never been asked of you before.

[Holly Madison]

No, it's been asked. It just doesn't get asked very often.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Yeah, Melissa, that was tacky.

[Radio Co-host]

I'm sorry. I am the tacky one.

Melissa, you're being a tool.

Melissa's the tool.

How much interaction did you have with Hef? I know the other girls came out and said that they didn't have much during the filming of the show. Was that accurate?

[Holly Madison]

No. Well, the thing about Hef is he's really busy. I mean, we would always do things every day, but he's really Busy with work during the day and stuff. So you would kind of do your own thing during the day, and he would always be in the office and work on the magazine and stuff.

[Radio Co-host]

Is living in that house like, living in a big sorority house?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, absolutely. It's super fun. And I'm kind of addicted to it, actually, because I live in this big suite in the hotel, and I have a roommate now, and I'm always like. I love being surrounded by people and my friends.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Here's Meg. She's got a question for you. Hey, Meg, you're on with Holly Madison.

[Caller Meg]

Hey, Holly.

[Holly Madison]

I'm a huge, huge, huge fan. I love the Girls Next Door, and I'm looking forward to the new show. But I was curious, how is your new show different from the Girls Next Door? Do some of the same girls make an appearance, or is it completely new people? It's a lot of new people. It's new friends from Peepshow. I would say, like, the three other main characters in the show, one of them is the male singer from Peep Show. One of them is a playmate that has been on a couple Girls Next Door episodes. And then my friend angel, who was born and raised in Vegas, she was on a few Girls Next Door episodes. It's a lot. I mean, it's the same producers as Girls Next Door, so it's a lot of the same style, the same fun and everything like that. That. But it's set in Vegas, so there's a lot of new things to do and new plot lines and different things like that.

[Radio Co-host]

And, Holly, are you taking part in any of the editing of that show?

[Holly Madison]

I don't get down to the editing. I will just let the producers know if I think there's something extra special and we go over story together. But I don't actually sit in the editing bay yet.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Are there some that you feel will never, ever be able to take you seriously as far as a businesswoman goes? Based on. On how you started the whole thing out with you, Hefner?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, absolutely. But, you know, I seem to be getting everything I want done anyway, so it's all right. I mean, obviously there will be some people out there who don't, but I don't really care what else.

[Radio Co-host]

Holly, I read on your website that you have a book club.

Is that true?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, I just, like, I post a new book that I'm reading every month on my website, and then I try and get people from Twitter to recommend new ones to me.

[Radio Co-host]

That's cool.

How many people do you think were in your movie because it sounds like it's almost like a indirect book club. How many people?

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, it's not really that interactive.

[Radio Co-host]

What is like the most popular book that you've read that your fans have responded to?

[Holly Madison]

Probably the Madonna biography. I read.

[Radio Co-host]

Well, so you got to really get the tacky questions in there.

[Radio Host Melissa]

I know.

[Radio Co-host]

I'm sorry. I was trying to make up for the elderly man sex question.

[Radio Host Melissa]

It's too late now. So tell us about the e. Special that's premiering.

[Holly Madison]

It's the first episode of my spin off from Girls Next Door. It's just about everything I'm doing in Vegas and all the fun stuff we're doing here. And it's a lot of fun. It's awesome.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Well, very cool. Well, thank you for joining us this morning. I apologize for my co host. I'm sorry. All right, Holly. Thank you.

[Holly Madison]

Thank you.

[Radio Host Melissa]

All right, bye bye. Melissa, I'm sorry.

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[Radio Co-host]

I wish you.

[Holly Madison]

I wish there was a camera in here by going, yes, Melissa asked a question.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Okay. I think we did pretty good with not a lot there.

[Radio Co-host]

That was a bummer of a way to end a Friday show that wasn't that bad.

Struggle.

[Holly Madison]

Yeah, well, she's a talker.

[Radio Host Melissa]

I'm exhausted now.

[Caller Meg]

Yeah.

[Radio Co-host]

Yeah. Her laugh fascinated me. I think Jeff and I were.

[Radio Host Melissa]

This is the message that Jeff is gonna leave for later on today.

[Caller Meg]

Ye so. And I want you. I don't want you to.

[Radio Co-host]

And Jeff has a mustache, too.

[Holly Madison]

Really?

[Caller Meg]

What?

[Radio Co-host]

Wendy, never.

[Holly Madison]

Okay.

[Radio Co-host]

How long have you been here?

[Radio Host Melissa]

You never noticed he had facial hair?

[Radio Co-host]

You never noticed he had facial hair? Well, no, I form a little fan. I guess I just didn't realize it.

[Radio Host Melissa]

I think. You know what I think she's saying?

[Radio Co-host]

What did you realize about the hair on my face?

[Radio Host Melissa]

Here's what I hear her saying, Jeff, is that your body is so hot she didn't even realize you had a face.

[Caller Meg]

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[Radio Co-host]

Well, it's really. It's going to send me into a weekend.

[Caller Meg]

Great.

[Radio Co-host]

Thanks for fixing the hobby Madison interview.

[Radio Host Melissa]

Hey, the bird show.

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