Teddi Mellencamp (Pt 3) How to Keep Your Faith Bigger Than Your Fear + What’s Really Real on Your Fav Reality TV Shows! The Inside Scoop She’s Never Shared Before!

Summary

The Jamie Kern Lima Show: Teddi Mellencamp (Pt 3) – How to Keep Your Faith Bigger Than Your Fear + Inside Scoop on Reality TV

Release Date: August 12, 2025

In this emotionally charged and insightful episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show, host Jamie Kern Lima sits down with her dear friend and television personality Teddi Mellencamp for Part 3 of their deep-dive conversation. This episode uniquely blends discussions about the reality TV landscape with Teddi's personal journey, particularly her courageous battle with stage four melanoma.

Guest Introduction and Personal Struggles

The episode begins with Jamie warmly introducing Teddi Mellencamp, highlighting her rise to fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, her role as co-host of the popular podcast Two T's and a Pod, and her role as a mother and stepmother. Importantly, Jamie shares the recent devastating news of Teddi’s diagnosis with stage four melanoma, which has metastasized to her brain and lungs. This revelation sets a profound tone for their conversation, underscoring themes of resilience and faith.

Behind the Scenes of Reality TV

Authenticity vs. Manufactured Drama

Jamie (02:32): "As a viewer, I feel like I get this sense that there must be some pressure on cast members to be. To have drama or to stay relevant, do you feel like people manufacture drama?"

Teddi (00:38): "I think there's three types of housewives. They’re doing that because they want to stay clean, not be hated by the public."

Teddi elaborates on the motivations behind drama in reality TV, distinguishing between those who naturally exude charisma and those who may intentionally create storylines to maintain visibility. She emphasizes that the primary goal for many cast members is to avoid public hatred rather than to fabricate drama for its own sake.

Types of Housewives and Storyline Creation

Teddi (23:10): "I think there's three types of housewives. Some are just funny and it flows naturally. Others can’t help themselves and create storylines without intending to manufacture drama."

This insight reveals the varied personalities within reality TV cast members and how their intrinsic behaviors contribute to the show's dynamics. Teddi explains that while some individuals bring genuine humor and spontaneity, others might unintentionally drive the narrative through their actions and interactions.

Impact of Fame and Online Criticism

Handling Online Criticism and Maintaining Authenticity

Jamie (06:54): "Do you feel now, did you get to a place where you were able to not let criticism online affect you?"

Teddi (06:54): "I don't think I got to that place until I started doing Two T's and a Pod. I had to stop monitoring what people think of me and just be myself."

Teddi discusses her journey toward resilience in the face of online criticism, attributing her growth to her podcasting experience. By creating and hosting her own platform, she learned to embrace vulnerability and authenticity, which helped her mitigate the negative impacts of public scrutiny.

The Evolution of Podcasting as a Tool for Healing

Teddi (35:26): "Our podcast is doing so great because we're creating insightful content around what's happening on shows, plus our own take on it."

Through Two T's and a Pod, Teddi and her co-host engage in meaningful conversations that not only entertain but also provide tactical tools and takeaways for listeners. This platform has become a sanctuary where Teddi can express herself freely without the constraints often imposed by reality TV.

Teddi's Personal Journey and Resilience

Facing Diagnosis with Strength and Purpose

Teddi (50:05): "I'm most certain that I'm strong enough that I can do this. My greatest purpose now is sharing this journey."

Teddi shares her unwavering belief in her own strength and her dedication to using her experience to inspire and support others. Despite the gravity of her health challenges, she remains focused on her purpose of sharing her story to help others overcome similar struggles.

Finding Joy Amidst Adversity

Teddi (47:34): "What brings me the most joy is watching my kids mature into the amazing people they are becoming."

Amidst her battle with cancer, Teddi finds immense joy in her role as a mother. She cherishes the small, everyday moments with her children, highlighting the importance of appreciating the present and the relationships that sustain us through difficult times.

Addressing Fears and Building Self-Worth

Teddi (49:12): "I'm most fearful of feeling alone. I don't ever want to be in this situation and not have support."

Teddi openly discusses her fears, particularly the fear of loneliness, while also emphasizing the strength she derives from her supportive network of friends and family. Her candidness serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of community and connection in overcoming personal challenges.

Reflections on Friendship and Support

Deep Bonds Beyond Reality TV

Teddi (39:37): "Tamara's one of my real friends. I love her, I care about her, and I can't imagine my life without her support."

Teddi reflects on her enduring friendship with Tamara Judge, another reality TV personality. Their bond, forged through shared experiences on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, exemplifies the genuine connections that can develop behind the scenes of reality television.

The Power of Vulnerability and Support

Teddi (52:17): "Every single thing in your life, if you open up and you're vulnerable, it's going to get better."

Emphasizing the strength found in vulnerability, Teddi shares how opening up about her struggles has not only helped her heal but also allowed others to find solace and encouragement in her story. Her insights highlight the transformative power of authentic connections and shared experiences.

Final Thoughts and Advice

Advice for Overcoming Difficult Seasons

Teddi (51:10): "One foot in front of the other. Get a little fresh air. Know that you're not alone."

Teddi offers practical and heartfelt advice for listeners navigating tough times. She advocates for simple yet effective strategies such as taking small steps forward, seeking fresh perspectives, and reaching out for support. Her guidance is both relatable and empowering, providing listeners with actionable steps to improve their own well-being.

Maintaining Positivity and Strength

Teddi (50:31): "As long as I keep staying strong and believing and staying as positive as I can, I'm gonna be okay."

Closing the conversation, Teddi reaffirms her commitment to maintaining strength and positivity. Her unwavering belief in herself serves as an inspiring testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive despite adversity.

Conclusion

This heartfelt episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show not only offers an inside look into the world of reality television but also delves deeply into Teddi Mellencamp's personal resilience and unwavering faith. Through candid discussions and poignant reflections, Teddi imparts valuable lessons on authenticity, handling criticism, and finding joy amidst life's most challenging moments. Listeners are left with a profound sense of gratitude, inspiration, and a reinforced belief in their own worthiness and strength.

Notable Quotes:

• Teddi (02:32): "I think there's three types of housewives. They’re doing that because they want to stay clean, not be hated by the public."
• Teddi (23:10): "I think there's three types of housewives. Some are just funny and it flows naturally. Others can’t help themselves and create storylines without intending to manufacture drama."
• Teddi (35:26): "Our podcast is doing so great because we're creating insightful content around what's happening on shows, plus our own take on it."
• Teddi (50:05): "I'm most certain that I'm strong enough that I can do this. My greatest purpose now is sharing this journey."
• Teddi (52:17): "Every single thing in your life, if you open up and you're vulnerable, it's going to get better."
• Teddi (51:10): "One foot in front of the other. Get a little fresh air. Know that you're not alone."
• Teddi (50:31): "As long as I keep staying strong and believing and staying as positive as I can, I'm gonna be okay."

This episode stands as a testament to the power of self-belief, the importance of authentic relationships, and the incredible strength that comes from embracing one's truth. It serves as both a behind-the-scenes exploration of reality TV and an inspiring personal narrative of overcoming adversity.

Transcript

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Coming up in this incredible Part 3 conversation with Teddi Mellencamp.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

This is a high class podcast right here, so I'm not sharing what. We go by our names.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oh, you can share.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I can share.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oh, yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Okay.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

I'm so excited to ask you all the scoop on for everyone who watches all these shows. As a viewer, I feel like I get this sense that there must be some pressure on cast members to be. To have drama or to stay relevant to keep their. Do you feel like people, like, manufacture drama?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think there's three types of housewives.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And are they doing that to stay relevant and stay on the show?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No, they're doing that because they want to stay clean.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Ah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

They want to stay not being hated. So as long as they're not caught creating it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Not be hated by the other cast members or by the public.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

The public or the other cast members, but mainly by the public people. I mean, that's the last couple seasons. There's a couple housewives that you could tell, like, pandered to the. To the public, and it never ends up well.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Do cast members ever get addicted to the fame that starts and the attention that starts, and then, like, it just takes over their life and becomes their biggest priority to the point where they might air dirty laundry they never would have before, or they might lose a friendship or lose a marriage or lose a job or whatever it might be.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

All of us can say there's a small addiction to making money. So the longer that you're on the Housewives, the more money you're gonna make.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Is everyone paid the same based on years or is it different? Is that the only app you're on?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I tried to get on Raya, but I really didn't get in. Neither did Erica.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes. We did not get into Raya. We don't know why. We're like, are we controversial? Like, why didn't we get in? Are we too old? Is it because I'm not an Insta model? Why didn't I get in? And nobody from Raya's ever responded.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Do you worry if you say something on your podcast and then someone gets their feelings hurt? Like, no. You don't worry at all? No, no.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

There's people that'll unfollow me. People occasionally will try to give you their point of view and why they did what they did?

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Ah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I tend not to respond. Oh.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Do they try to seed. Do they try to seed the narrative on your show?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

If they ask you to go back on to a season of Housewives of Beverly Hills, at this exact moment in time with everything that you're carrying in your life, would you do it?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Think about what's going on in their life that they're choosing a stranger that they've never met to say those things to. The more I share, the more I'm like, people are gonna think I'm so nuts.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What are you most certain of in your life right now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would say that I'm most certain that I'm strong enough that I can do this. My greatest purpose now is sharing this. Yeah. I mean, I think there'll be times that people are listening to we just talked about, and there's gonna be some heat that I'll get. But I think there's also gonna be some times where people, where we're talking and people are gonna go, wow, this moment just changed my life. Or I'm going to the doctors. Or I wonder if this feeling I'm having is the same feeling she had and goes and gets checked.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Our incredible, incredible guest today, Teddi Mellencamp is a television personality who rose to fame on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She's also the co host of the wildly popular podcast called two T's in a Pod. Daughter of musician John Mellencamp, a mom to her beloved little ones, Slate, Cruz and Dove. She's also the stepmother to Isabella, and I'm so grateful to call her friend. As her impact and following continues to expand, explode. She's also going through the unimaginable and the fight of her life in this very moment right now. Teddi was recently diagnosed with stage four melanoma, which she shared has metastasized to her brain and lungs. And today's episode of the podcast is unlike any before. So get your tissues out and get ready to feel overwhelming gratitude and perspective for the blessings in your life right now that can be so easy for us to take for granted when we have them. And of course, we have a little fun, too. And get the inside scoop on what really happens behind the scenes of your favorite reality TV shows and so much more.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oprah, how have you defied the odds?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Her show is unlike any any I've ever done. A revelation. When you listen, it feels like a hug. But your brain and your spirit and your heart is like, wow.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Melinda French Gates.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

When I look into Jamie's eyes, I.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Feel like I am on some other.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Cosmic level with her. I could see the light around her. She's infused with light.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Imagine overcoming self doubt, learning to believe in yourself and trust Yourself and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Jamie Kern Lima is her name. Everybody needs Jamie Kern Lima in their life. Jamie Kern Lima. Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern Lima.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You mentioned you barely even read criticism online. I remember you and I had lunch. This was a number of years ago. It was your first season on Housewives, and we were talking at lunch about just online criticism, handling it, just this whole world we're in now, now I feel like 20, 25. It's wild. I feel like you can't do anything, anybody can't do anything without, you know, vitriol and this and that and opinions and, you know, and it's just wild. So. And for most people, listening, maybe for them, their platform is the people at work and who they were raised around and, you know, or the, you know, people at church or the people in their peer group or. Or they never wanted to be online ever. And they are in a profession that's like a doctor or a lawyer or whatever, and now they have Yelp reviews online. And it's just such a new world we're in. Do you feel now, and I'm talking about even before, before the diagnosis, before everything you're going through, did you get to a place where you were able to not let criticism online affect you?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I don't think I got to that place until I started doing two T's and a pod. It would have been impossible. This is a high class podcast right here. So I'm not sharing what we go by our names.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oh, you can share.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I could share.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oh, yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Okay. So everybody calls us the Twats.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So the fact that people call us the Twats and, like, we're getting ourselves into trouble all the time, I had to just go. If I'm gonna go in and be myself and have fun on this show and say ridiculous things, I have to stop looking. I have to stop looking. I have to stop trying to monitor what people think of me. I mean, anybody that I'm close to in my life knows this is how I am, and that's what I have to consider. And if I say something I regret, I can always say, hey, guys, last week I said this. I wish I didn't. I thought I took it too far. I didn't mean it. Sorry. And if people want to accept that apology, they can. Or they can go, know what? We hate her. Neither is going to make a difference to me. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You know, I spent so many years just sort of showing up, pouring into people however I could, going to events, you know, with it, cosmetics. We have millions of women. I feel so blessed to have built that community. And it wasn't until this podcast. It wasn't until this podcast where I've had so many different people on, different people that vote different, love different, believe different, bring with them a whole thing, like, a whole history they bring with them. And I have to say, this last year has been wild, you know, because I've had some guests on where I've never seen anything like it. You know, in terms of. I had one guest on where the number of hate groups and chatbot attacks on this person every day is enormous. And it's like, whoa. And just the online vitriol that I know is just out there every day for most people, and I think for everybody in 2025, learning how to not let it get to you is, like, so important, because otherwise you get tempted to just, like, hide or not be yourself or. Or not put yourself out there or cancel yourself out of your own calling.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. There's no winning. There's no winning everybody over. That doesn't exist.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

There's no making every person in the world happy.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And I think that's what I just have to keep remembering when it comes to the world of social media especially. Not everyone in the world is gonna think that I look a certain way or I do this or I do that, or I'm. I mean, the things that could be wrong with me that people will find, I'm like, whoa, this is a new one. Let's go. You know, like, you have to kind of just laugh at it at some point. And then what I've been trying to do a little bit, which helps when somebody really gets mean and I've accidentally seen it, I'll be like, think about what's going on in their life that they're choosing a stranger that they've never met to say those things to, you know, and that gives me a little bit of, like, would I ever say those things to a complete stranger that I don't know? No.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

No.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And I would imagine the majority of you listening to this wouldn't either. Right?

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And so if somebody's coming after you and think about all the stuff our kids are gonna have to go through with bullying and all those types of things. But that's what I try to say to them. Like, even my kids. Cause you never know. As they're starting to get to the teenage years, I'm like, if anybody says things to you and it's hurting your feelings or you Think it's inappropriate? One, you know, tell your teacher. Tell me. But two, like, remember, it has nothing to do with you. Mm. Mm.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Okay. Real housewives.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, gosh.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Two T's in a pod. I remember Teddi, literally, season one of Big Brother. So that, for me was 20, 27 years ago. 27 years ago, I went on to season one of Big Brother, and I remember having no clue what it was. Reality TV was not, like, a huge genre yet. There was Real World on mtv, but that was it. And all of a sudden, those were the greats. Yeah, the greats. All of a sudden, Survivor 1 and Big Brother 1 were coming to the US and nobody knew what it was. And I remember sending my tape in with a bunch of girlfriends in school, like, oh, that sounds fun, whatever that is. You know, kind of a thing. Went through the whole casting process. It was the craziest experience. Got cast on the first season was in this. I was locked in this house for three months. And at the time, it was such a different day and age because it aired. Season one aired six nights a week on CBS Primetime. Right. So it was. And, you know, a lot of people watched the regular channels at that point. There wasn't a million.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like a streaming media.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah, there wasn't streaming. There wasn't. There was AOL that was streaming it, but there weren't. There wasn't social channels, so there was, like, blogs, I'll never forget. And I. And the. The whole American public would call in once a week and kick you off. And I got kicked off the last day, so. The last day. Sorry, the night before the last day. So I was there for three months, locked in this house, and I came out of it. And none of us knew what to expect. Every person on the show had a million fan sites, a million hate sites, because people were.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

You didn't know if you were gonna be liked or hated.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You didn't know anything. You didn't know how it was edited. Like, I didn't realize there's like something like 70 cameras filming all day. And then it got edited to one hour that night or probably 40 minutes that night. And the whole experience was wild, and people just didn't know what to make of it. And now you look at the just massive popularity of reality T. And it's funny, my husband Paulo, loves scripted just, you know, dramas and all the great net.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

You were gonna say Love Island. I was like, me too.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

I love. I love a great reality show. I love a great reality show because, you know, sometimes I just. I just want to either escape in other people's lives or I want to be entertained, and I don't want to think about everything that I'm stressed out about. And I just want to just like, you know, and so it's such a thing for so many people. And, you know, I have just one data point, one experience behind the scenes of one season a long time ago. It's so different now, and people's lives are impacted in so many different ways now. And so I am. I'm so excited to ask you all the scoop on. For everyone who watches all these shows or one show, Everyone who watches Housewives and loves it, or any of these shows and your podcast, two T's in a pod. I know you watch all the shows.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

We watch all of them. Then we watch some additional shows that aren't even on Bravo. Like, we watch Secret Lives with Mormon Wives. Anything that seems like it's gonna be really juicy, we do it. I do another podcast with Erika Jayne called Diamonds in the Rough. But right now, we're recapping Real Housewives of Orange County. We take a little break from doing our other, which is just us kind of talking about our lives, too. We're like, oh, no, this is now a priority. OC's on. Because I can't recap OC with Tamra because Tamara is on. OC is on it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So that breaks those rules.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So I can recap with another housewife as long as that housewife isn't on the show. That.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right, right. That's it. And to do a full recap with Erica, do a full recap with Tamra. Do full episode. You're watching all the shows. You're staying up to date on who's doing what, what's going on.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So not only are you watching the shows, so you're taking notes on the shows. Then you've got a team of producers that are watching the show, so you have their opinions. And then you also have. You also have to keep track of everybody's names, even if they just popped in once, even if they're there, because they may be back. They may be back as Housewives. Like, sometimes if somebody talks for a second or, like, says something funny, I'm like, oh, are we gonna see them back again? Is that a new friend of. Is that a blah, blah, blah? You know, so you gotta keep track of that.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Also, you have to remember more than just the dialogue because you have to make it entertaining.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So oftentimes I have to watch the shows twice. The first time is Just so I can, like, all right, this is what the show's about today. And the second time. Okay, this is what I'm gonna riff on or discuss.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But some shows are easier to recap than others. Like, if somebody's having. We call it, like, filler. Filler shows, those are hard to recap because not a lot happened. So that's where I always joke with Tamara. We'll be like, oh, this is gonna be. This is a Tamara and Teddi show. We're just gonna recap each other this whole episode because we didn't like what we watched.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

When you see any reality show now, having been on one of the biggest reality shows in the country for multiple seasons, having so many friends that are on all the different shows now, when you watch any show, do you see it so differently than maybe someone at.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Home sees it, like, the crazy part? No. Because there are parts that felt so real doing it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

That, like, you're so invested in the moment. So when that drama's happening, that drama, it may be slightly different or, you know, with lack of a better word, it might have been edited to look a certain way. But those emotions that you're seeing, those are real emotions.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Those are real.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And something happened that somebody said that got that person to that kind of way. So, like, when I'm watching any of the shows, I mean, it's like, I'm right there in it, and then I'm trying to figure out what really happened. Like, what did I miss? Why is this person so upset? I think it's interesting because as you watch all the different franchises and you see how comfortably some people get right into. Right into Go Zone and how some people are slow burn. You realize how much of the show is actually true.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

A lot of people wonder. They're like, is this show real? Is this show real? Is it scripted? Is it, you know, encouraged by producers? Is it any of that?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

It's as real as you are in your real life. So, like, if you walked around and you, like. I mean, there are some women that come out and they're, like, in gowns every day. I'm like, well, what is going on? But then I would see them out of filming, and they would still be in that outfit. So it's like they're as real as they are willing to show.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right, Right. As a viewer, I feel like I get this sense that there must be some pressure on cast members to be. To have drama or to stay relevant, to keep their job. Do you feel like people, like, manufacture drama?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think there's three types of housewives.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

We need to pause for a super brief break. And while we do, take a moment and share this episode with every single person that you know who this could inspire. Because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration that they need to hear today to keep going, to remember that they matter, and to feel less alone and more enough, more connected and more worthy. In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self worth. When you build your self worth, you change your entire life. And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy how to believe you are enough and transform your life for you. If you have some self doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill, Worthy is for you. In Worthy, you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring life changing results like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back, build unshakable self love, unlearn the lies that lead to self doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness, overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome, achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you were born to be? Imagine a life with zero self doubt and unshakable self worth. Get your copy of Worthy plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for [e-mail] or the link in the Show Notes below. Imagine what you do. If you fully believed in you, it's time to find out. With Worthy, who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration. Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you, delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamiekernlima.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one on one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy and love hitting your inbox. I'm your girl. [e-mail] or in the link in the Show Notes. Do you struggle with negative self talk? Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting. I know because I spent most of my life in that habit. The words you say to yourself about yourself are so powerful. And when you learn to take control over your self talk, it's life changing. And I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you if this is something that could benefit your Life. It's called 5 Ways to Overcome negative self talk and build self love. And it's a free how to guide to overcome that negative self talk to build confidence and develop unshakable self love so that you can dream big and keep going in the pursuit of your goals. Don't let self sabotaging thoughts hinder your progress any longer. It's time to rewrite the script of your life. One filled with self love, resilience and unwavering belief. If you're ready to take charge of your narrative, build unwavering confidence and empower yourself to persevere on the path to your dreams. You can grab your free guide to stop overthinking and learn to Trust yourself at jamiekernlima.com resources or click the link in the show notes below. And now more of this incredible conversation together. As a viewer, I feel like I get this sense that there must be some pressure on cast members to be to have drama or to stay relevant to keep their job. Do you feel like people like manufacture drama?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think there's three types of housewives. I think there's like just some housewives that are just funny and it just flows off of them and it's just excellent and it comes off pretty well for them in general.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Then I think there's the people that they can't help themselves. Like they see their worker bees, they see an opportunity to make things happen and they're going to make things happen regardless of how it may be. Bite them in the butt later. They're like, hold on, nobody clocked this. I'm going to go in, I'm going to take control, I'm going to make this and that makes storylines and that. So then it creates it. But I don't think they necessarily go in thinking I created a storyline. I think they just like that's them by nature. You know, they're going to, they're going to search. And then I think there's people that are just really forward thinkers, like are three steps ahead of the game. So they're creating storyline that we're not even realizing we're blaming somebody else for. Mmm.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Like a game of chess.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And are they doing that to stay relevant and Stay on the show to stay.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No, they're doing that because they want to stay clean.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Ah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

They want to stay not being hated. So as long as they're not caught creating it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Not be hated by the other cast members or by the public.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

The public or the other cast members, but mainly by the public people. I mean, that's the last couple seasons. There's a couple housewives that you could tell, like, pandered to the. To the public, and it never ends up well. It's like you get, like, two seasons of being able to do that, and then it's like, okay, we got it. We see what you're doing here, and we're bored. Mm.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

When you're a cast member on one of these shows, does everyone just understand the assignment that they have to be, you know, whatever, dramatic, interesting, like, accusatory, whatever it might be?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

People understand the assignment, but it still doesn't change what your sensitivity level is. Something that hurts my feelings may devastate you. Or something that doesn't hurt her feelings may, you know, like, we don't really know. And everybody has different moral compasses or different rules.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So you can say it's all planned, but I would say, I mean, I don't know everything about all those girls. Like, I could maybe step into something and not particularly have meant it because it wouldn't have been a big deal to me. And then all of a sudden, you're in the biggest deal of your life. Like, mm, My most annoying storyline was just some flippant conversation that was unnecessary. Mm.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Because you don't know how everyone else is gonna react or what they're gonna feel about it. Do you feel. Do you feel. When you look at the progression of the show, do cast members ever get addicted to the fame that starts and the attention that starts, and then, like, it just takes over their life and becomes their biggest priority to the point where they might air dirty laundry they never would have before, or they might lose a friendship or lose a marriage or lose a job or whatever it might be.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think people get to the point where, you know, if they're in the show, they're wanting the show to be good. The longer that they're on, the more they're probably going to be willing to be like, all right, I'll do this. Like, we gotta make a good show. But it also could go the other way. I've been on long enough. I shouldn't have to do this anymore. So you can't really. It's really based on the person. It's like, in each individual. I mean, yes, I think there's. All of us can say there's a small addiction to making money. So the longer that you're on the Housewives, the more money you're gonna make. And you know that there's like a standard. You hit five years, you hit six years, you know, like, whatever it may be. And so I think there's that aspect to it too.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Is everyone paid the same based on years, or is it different?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I'm not allowed to say.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Does everyone know who's a cast member? That answer.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Most of us knew. Ish.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Mm.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But I can say that all first season housewives are paid the same. So the people that say, oh, I got offered $10 million to be on season one of the Real Housewives, I'm like, no, you didn't. You didn't. No one did. Season one Housewives, we were all paid the same.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

It's interesting that there's a lot of people who are famous before that go on to it. And I think there's a lot of people that see the success that some of you have had with your businesses. Right. With all in or. A lot of people will talk about Bethenny Frankel with her company, and they think, oh, if I get on the show, my businesses are going to explode. Do you think that that is true?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think the businesses only explode if they were businesses prior to or like, they were naturally built. I think what you see oftentimes happening is just randomly. You'll be watching a housewife show, and then so and so will be like, and this is my candle. I'm launching tomorrow. And then it's like, no one's gonna smell it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Because it doesn't feel authentic. But if you've seen somebody go through the motions of a business like it, it's like watching Lisa Rinna go to an acting studio. Of course she would be going. Like, that's something that she would do. You know, it's not something that's just made up for television. Anything made up just for television, I don't think doesn't do well.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

People can sense it.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah, you can sense it, and then it's not.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Are people. Are cast members allowed to do that? Like, product placement of their stuff?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Mm. You can, but it doesn't mean that the editors are gonna show it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So if you start to be too much of that person, you start to see that there's less of it. Right. And there's some people that just, you know, they wear it all over their clothes, all the time, it's this constant, and you're just like, is any.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Does any cast member across any season or any. Any city have any Input on editing?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No. 0, 0. So the people that say that it's so not true know who does the best product placement for themselves? Jax Taylor. Ah. So he's just gotten out of rehab. Allegedly. Yeah. And he wears every single day of filming from rehab or wherever he is. Jax's. Which is a bar.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

On a. On his hat.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So it's like no matter what. You know the name of that bar?

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And now he's tied it to partying. This that he, you know, so. But I mean, I don't know how much.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And there's the big drama of Britney, of them changing the name to Britain.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. To Britt.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you think that was intentional on her part? Because maybe it's like 5050 or something.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I don't think that she got any money for. I think they just knew it would piss him off.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Ah, okay.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. But I mean, it's just how they kind of. They all kind of put it through their head and then sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn't. For Jax's, I think it stuck because people are like, this is so ridiculous that he would wear this hat right now. And he's wearing it every day.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Is the bar open right now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Probably, yeah. I don't know. I don't go to many bars. Yeah, I mean, maybe I will now that my hinge is up on.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right. Because it's gonna blow up. I am. No, I just. I don't know what I would think. I would think maybe you would have, like a code name or a code photo.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

What would I do as a code? Well, I did at first not have my bald photo up, and then I was like, now I'm having to explain somebody to everybody. Not like there's a. Now I'm having to display to the thousands and thousands of people. But no, but once they ask you out, then I'm like, so do you want the code reds or do you want to just. Most of them are like, yes, we want the code reds. But I mean, no one's going to turn down once you say, but you just kind of peter off if you're like, I know. Pretty. I know. Probably within five messages if this is going to peter off or not.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

How often do you check hinge?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would say, like once every couple days.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Okay.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I mean, for a while I wasn't checking it at all, but most of the time you just get A rose or something, which means then I would have to write the thing, and I'm not gonna do it. You have to be reaching out to me, and you have to have something funny or that's it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Mm.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

That's all I got.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Something funny.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Something funny.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Is that the only app you're on for dating?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I can't really keep. I can barely keep track of that one a couple days a week, let alone multiple. I tried to get on Raya, but I really didn't get in. Neither did Erica.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes. We did not get into Raya. We don't know why. We're like, are we controversial? Like, why didn't we get in? Are we too old? Is it because I'm not an Insta model? Why didn't I get in? And nobody from Raya's ever responded. Other people that have been accepted on Raya have messaged me, and they're like, how is this possible? Yeah, I'm like, I don't know. I'm like. But everybody tells me that Raya is not as good as Hinge, because Raya, it's got the celebrity aspect, which that's what I'm gonna go with. Not that I got rejected from Raya, so I chose Hinge.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And if it has that aspect, do you think it sort of, like, attracts.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

A certain type of person? Also? Somebody I know that's on Raya said they know a lot of people when they go online. I've never looked at Hinge and been like, oh, I know him. Never once. Mm. There's no crossover.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Would you rather date a celebrity, or would you rather date someone that's, like, not in this world at all?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would rather date probably not somebody in this world at all. Or Colin Farrell. Just kidding. I don't even know if you think Colin.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

That's funny. Yeah. You know it's funny. My husband's not on social at all. Paulo. He's not on social.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

He could care less about anything. And it's so nice. It's so nice. You know what I mean? Because you're not like. Yeah, yeah. He doesn't. He doesn't get impressed by anything unless someone's kind.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah, no, he's. He's just a cool guy, too. He's just, like, a cool, fun, nice guy into sports.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. Yeah. And I. I love it, so. But I was curious for you, especially, because you are probably around so. So many people that are in the industry. Right.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And so I would imagine it would take a lot. Like, I would need, like, a really. I'm not really. Probably gonna be at this stage where I'm gonna be told what to do much.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. So good.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. So freeing. I just. It's not gonna happen for me. And I think that if I switch the power dynamic, then all of a sudden I could be the one told what to do. Mm. Mm. Right now, me just living my life, trying to be as happy, as healthy as I can, and make as much money as I can is.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You know, you're podcasting five or six days a week right now. And I do one show a week. I do one show a week. And it is so much work. It is over a full time job for me. Way over 40 hours a week I put into one.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But you're editing it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. Doing all of that. That's true. That's true. You're editing a very small team that's tiny and mighty.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

You guys are crushing it, though. But it's because you're editing it. I finish. So even though we have additional pods that me and Tam are producers on that are on, like, Emily has like a really good true crime pod that's under two T's and a pod. So we have a bunch of. We listen and then that's it. Like, we have a whole production team over at iheart that does all of our editing of our podcast. So it's like, yes, we have to do a lot of research leading up, but the second we're done, we're done. Occasionally one of us will be like, hey, I don't like the way this came out, or blah, blah, blah, but like, very rarely.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah, yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So you're putting in a lot of time because that takes a lot of time.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. You know, I don't have a booker anything yet. Yeah, yeah. So literally every person that's come on is either pitched themselves or as a friend so far.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So I'm both. You're both. You're both. You're both.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And we were talking about this earlier. You know, it's just wild when you have a small team because when you're getting thousands of pitches, you know, every week, and then you're trying to have someone at the time to go through it. Yeah. It's been an interesting first year journey, but I know, I know how much work it is and. And it's such a talent for you because I just want to call this out and highlight this and honor this. Yes, you're watching all the shows, but then other people are watching the shows. But your. Your podcast is doing so great because you guys are creating really insightful content around what's happening on shows, plus your own take on it. Plus your. You know what I mean? Plus all the stuff that you have to add that's interesting and dynamic, and that just takes a lot of energy. So I admire it. You have fun with it, I would say.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Depends on the show.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Depends on the show.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Depends on the show, and depends what they're giving. Like, if somebody's giving a lot and you feel like the show is authentic. Yeah, I love it. Like, there's sometimes I can't wait to watch a show.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. Do you worry if you. If. Do you worry if you say something on your podcast and then someone gets their feelings hurt? Like, no. You don't worry at all? No, no.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would say none of us necessarily care about that because that's why. That's what we're being paid to do. It'd be like, if you are somebody's assistant and then you're not going and doing the assistant work, you're probably not going to keep that job.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes. Right. So you know the job that you have.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah, like, I know the job that I have that's to go on and, you know, be a little shady, be a little funny, say some, you know, ridiculous things and kind of move on from it. If I didn't move on from it, then I'd have to be, like, obsessing over it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right. When. When you guys talk about somebody, do they love that because they're getting more airtime?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Depends on the person.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Do you ever hear from people that are just upset or whatever?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I mean, there's people that'll unfollow me as if. But I won't even notice. It'll be written up in, like, one of the blogs or something, like, so and so unfollowed. Teddi after her recent podcast where she said, da, da, da, da. But I don't know. But no. People occasionally will try to give you their point of view and why they did what they did? I tend not to respond.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Oh, do they try to seed. Do they try to seed the narrative on your show?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes. And I tend to just be, like, love watching. You know, Like, I don't want to get involved in, like, that whole mess because there's a whole big mess on OC this year because there's, like, a blogger that's involved with one of the housewives, and they were messaging, and now it's coming out. But that's not how I want to watch a show. I don't want to watch a show about somebody that blogged about the, like. No.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Right. Because it's kind of like inside baseball a little bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This I would find fascinating. When you. Did you find that people treated you differently once you got on Housewives in the sense of, like, did more people wanna be your friend? And then when you were no longer on Housewives, did that change? And then now that you host this big podcast that now, you know what I'm saying? Like, how has. How have people treated you?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

The shift. I would say the shift really depends on the cast that you're on and how close your friendships are.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like, one thing that both me and Tamara have been very open about was everybody on Beverly Hills that I was friends with kept that friendship. Like, really worked hard on maintaining it and being like, we love you. You know, we miss you. And the girls that I was close with, I'm still close with. Tamara did not have that experience the year that she was let go from O.C. and her friends all kind of just, wow. But to me, that's how, you know, like, is this a show friend or a real friend? And, like, Tamara's one of my real friends. Like, I love her, I care about, and I can't imagine.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Did you guys meet in church?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

We met at church. We met at church in Orange County. I was walking out, and Edwin goes, do we know her? And I'm like, yes, we do. Hi, Tamara Judge. And then everybody said. Then I booked the podcast, and I said, I want to do it with a co host, though, because for me, it's not as fun to just recap by myself. And they said, okay. And they named a couple people. And I was like, nope. The only way I'm doing it is if it's with Tamar Judge. Wow. And they're like, well, she's not going to do it. She just got fired from the show. I'm like, she'll do it. And I called her, and I just was like, I think we'll have so much fun, and we can make such a big difference. Like, in the world of, you know.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Housewives, podcasting is so good. Did you just have a gut feeling?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like, I just had a gut feeling. Like, I was like, I need somebody that's not going to also overthink everything. I already overthink everything else in my life, but in this area, I don't. So. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah. And how long have you guys done the show now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I think it's three or four years. Yeah. And then me and Erica, I think two years.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You and Erica. Did it start as a segment Then turn into its own show. Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. Then we loved it so much, and then our numbers were so high, we're like, okay, we gotta combo it up.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So it's really fun. I love it. And it's. You know, it's kind of like family at this point.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Mm.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

You know, we'll go to BravoCon, and there'll be, like, a twatz con there, and everybody will.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

People bring shirts, T shirts. If they ask you to go back on to a season of Housewives of Beverly Hills at this exact moment in time with everything that you're carrying in your life, would you do it?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

No?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

You'd say no?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

No. So for all those people that think they saw me in Sedona this week, you didn't. Yeah. No. I don't have the bandwidth for it right now. And I'm not somebody that likes to do something when I can't be good at it. I guess that's bad to say, go all in. Yeah. Unless I. But I feel like my words are a little stuttery sometimes. And it doesn't mean that I'm telling a lie or any of this. It just. That's how I am. Ever since some people have to relearn to talk after having these surgeries that I had. So the fact that I can or walk or do any of these things, the fact that I can do as much as I can do, I'm so blessed for. But it still happens to me. And some days are very bad. Like, some days I'm, like, just stumbling word over word. And I would hate to be on a show like that and have somebody think that I was not being honest and really I was just struggling and then them get the heat for it, because how could you do that to someone that has cancer? There's just too. There's too many. I don't think it would be the best for the cast, and it wouldn't be the best for me right now.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Do you think you'd be open to it in the future?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I don't know. I like the idea of being on another television show, but I don't know that. Housewives. I enjoy it so much now that I recap it. I don't know that I need to be on that particular show again, but I would love to be on TV in some capacity with all of the.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Stuff going on on that show. When you're a cast member and the drama and the. Oh, my gosh. Do you feel. Does it feel good to not have that kind of drama or do you still feel like you have it hosting a podcast?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I don't feel like I have it hosting a podcast. I don't feel like. And also, when I can see one of my friends that are hurting.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And I remember that time, I am like, ugh. I mean, it's hard for me to even recap people. Like, I'll say on my show, I'll be like, hey, guys, I'm recapping this episode. You guys are going to say I'm biased, and that's fine. Tell me a best friend that isn't a little biased. And it's not a friend I want. So be mad at me all you want. This is my opinion, this is my show, and I'm going to say what I want. You're welcome to write your responses here, but I'm not gonna change my opinion. Like, this is one of my best friends, and this is how I feel. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

So not that long ago, I remember walking off stage from getting the Gracie Award for this podcast, which, by the way, biggest full circle moment, because I used to be in television news, thinking one day and I'd always see who win the Gracie Awards. And anyway, so for this show, for this podcast, when it was like, I was in shock and I felt so grateful and I was, like, in a daze being in that room. And I remember giving the speech for winning the award for this podcast, walking backstage and I see you and Kyle, and I didn't know you were there. I didn't know you were there. I was like. And I was so excited. And why I'm bringing this up is because as I just, like, hung out there for a little bit, and then you guys were on stage and you went back to your table, feeling the energy of how. How great of a friend it felt she was to you in that. You know what I mean? Like, I just. I watched her, I always noticed just the most, might like the most granular details, and sometimes that's great, and sometimes that makes me miserable, but that's another story. But anyways, I just noticed these, like, granular details, and it was just so many little things that I was watching. How great of a friend she's been.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Such an incredible friend. The amount of things that she has, you know, just been there for me. And oftentimes they say, you know, you need laughter. She's given me laughter. She's given me true friendship. She's been there for my kids. She was there in the hospital on the days that I was wretched and the days that I was lovely, you know, like, just so much kindness has come from her. And, like, she is just the person that, like, you know, it's the small things that I could be like, gosh, I'm really craving these tacos that you make. And she'll be like, be here in 20. You know, like, she's just that type of person, and she'll, like, have your favorite tacos made with, like, the special little thing on the side that, like, you, like. Like, she just. Her attention to detail is really incredible, and she's been such a good friend to me and. But also calls me out when I need it. Like, when I got out of the hospital the day after, I thought I solved a Scott Peterson case. So rough day at the hospital when you're trying to tell the entire staff I solved the Scott Peterson case. They're like, you watched the documentary yesterday. You didn't solve it.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Isn't she. Didn't. Am I remembering this right? Didn't Kyle. Wasn't Kyle the first person to say, go get this checked?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes. She was the first person to tell me to go get this checked on my arm. I still have the picture of us going to her dermatologist. Wow. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

And that day where you're just like, okay, I'll do it.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But, you know, I didn't think it was anything. I mean, I went there in a sports bra that we ran in. Like, that's how worried about the son I was. I was like, everyone's driving me nuts about this thing. Next thing you know, I have a big, huge Z. Big, huge Z. My huge Z. And now with my dad's lyrics tattooed on the back.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What was his reaction to the tattoo?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Well, he. We all kind of. We all got. The more I share, the more I'm like, people are gonna think I'm so nuts. But first, we all got these little knife tattoos. So because I would get super annoyed about things, I wanted a way to just say something without saying it. So now something's driving me nuts. I can just go and tap my little knife, which doesn't really mean anything, but. So we all got our little family. My sister got one. My brother got one. We have these little knife tattoos. But I said, I want to get another one. And he's like, why don't you get. Life is short, even on its longest days. And I, like, started crying, and then I got on my back. So. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

So we picked a good song for you to walk into. What brings you the most joy in life right now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Brings me the most joy, I would say. What brings Me the most Joy is of course, the answer of, like, watching my kids mature into the human beings that they are like and getting to know their little personalities as they get more and more different and have stronger personalities. But I would say other than that, it's like really the small things. Like, Cruz and I started watching a show that he really likes and so once a week he'll remember the day it comes on and he'll be like, it's our show night, we watching it and It'll be like 5:40pm and we're like, yep, you know, so it's, it's those little things that, like, my kids remember that are important to them. That I get to do that maybe I wouldn't have been there to do before is pretty amazing. I get a lot of joy out of watching Slate ride. I'm getting a lot of joy out of swimming and also swimming with Dev. I get a lot of joy out of seeing Bella become an adult. Like, that's bananas to me. Like, she's 16 years old, I'm half her size, height wise, like, it's banana. It's just time really flies. And I think you really do have to appreciate the time that we do have because no matter where you are in your life, it's going by fast. And I never, I just thought my parents were old and didn't know what else to say when I was younger. But it's true. Time flies.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What makes you most fearful in your life right now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would say I'm most fearful of either, you know, the most obvious or I would say I'm fearful of feeling alone. I don't ever want to be in this situation and not. I mean, I have so many friends and family. This is like an irrational fear. I have so many friends and family that are there for me where some people, you know, aren't blessed with that. So it's like I need to get this out of my head. But just knowing that I could pick up the phone and talk to somebody at any point in time or say, like, can you bring me my favorite smoothie? Is huge. So I have fear of being alone.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Or my favorite tacos.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What are you most certain of in your life right now?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would say that I'm most certain that I'm strong enough that I can do this. That like, throughout, like, I am well equipped. I have good family, I have a lot of love. And as long as I keep staying strong and as long as I keep believing and staying as positive as I can, I'm gonna be okay. Yeah.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What do you believe your greatest purpose is?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I mean, that change? I would say my greatest purpose now is sharing this. Yeah. I mean, I think there'll be times that people are listening to what we just talked about, and there's going to be some heat that I'll get. But I think there's also going to be some times where we're talking and people are going to go, wow, this moment just changed my life. Or I'm going to the doctors, or I wonder if this feeling I'm having is the same feeling she had, and goes and gets checked.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

What's your advice for someone listening right now who's going through a difficult season in their life?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

One foot in front of the other. Get a little fresh air. Doesn't mean you have to exercise, but just get a little fresh air. I sometimes will just go out and take a couple deep breaths because everything feels a lot worse in my bedroom. If I'm in there, it's dark. I start the day. It's. I don't fully get acclimated for the day. Then I'll keep saying sad. So I would say, you know, get a little fresh air. If you do that, it still doesn't work. Sometimes I'll hop in the shower and I'll put the cold on, then the hot on and kind of go back and forth a little, and it wakes my body up, so that helps. And then also, knowing you're not alone, you're really not. No matter what it is that you're going through, I can guarantee there's someone else going through something similar. Or even if they're not, they'll still be a good person to talk to about it. So just be vulnerable. I've learned the more vulnerable I am, the more I've grown from people I didn't know because I've shared a story that I didn't think I would share.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Mm.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Every single thing in your life, if you open up and you're vulnerable, it's going to get better.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Teddy Mellencamp. Thank you.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Of course.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

I love you. I'm so grateful you're here. Thank you for everything that you are doing that is so much greater than you or me or any of us. Whole new mission, in addition to everything else that you're doing. And how many people right now are gonna go get checked because they heard this podcast? And while you're getting checked, go subscribe to two T's and a Pod.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes. Listen away. You'll have a lot to say, and.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Both of your podcasts are great. I love just how vulnerable you guys are.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Also. Thank you.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

I love that. So we'll link to your shows. We'll link to everything here in the show notes. And thank you. Thank you for being here.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Of course. Thanks for having me.

[Jamie Kern Lima]

Remember, this episode's not just for you and me. Please share this with everyone, single person that you know because it can be the impact and change that they need in their life too. And if you love today's episode, click on the Follow or Subscribe button for the show on the app that you're listening to it on or watching it on. And if it added value to your life, if you could please give it a rating or review, I'd be so grateful. And again, share it with everyone that you believe in. Share it with another person in your life who could benefit from it. Maybe someone you know is going through a struggle or a hard time too and they're just trying to keep the faith. Please share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and lessons in this episode today. You never know whose life you are meant to change today by sharing this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today. Before you go, I want to share some words with you that couldn't be more true. You right now, exactly as you are, are enough and fully worthy. You're worthy of your greatest hopes, your wildest dreams and all the unconditional love in the world. And it's an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kern Lima show here. I hope you'll come as you are, heal where you need, blossom what you choose, journey toward your calling and stay as long as you'd like because you belong here. You are worthy, you are loved, you are loved and I love you and I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Carn Lima Show. In life you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self worth. When you build your self worth, you change your entire life. And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy how to believe you are enough and transform your life for you. If you have some self doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill, worthy is for you. In worthy you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring life changing results. Like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back, build unshakable self love, unlearn the lies that lead to self doubt and embrace the truths of that wake up worthiness, overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome. Achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you were born to be? Imagine a life with zero self doubt and unshakable self worth. Get your copy of Worthy plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for [e-mail] or the link in the show notes below. Imagine what you'd do if you fully believed in you. It's time to find out with Worthy, who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration. Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamiekernlima.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one on one with Jamie weekly newsletter and and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy and love hitting your inbox. I'm your girl. [e-mail] or in the link in the show notes. And please note, I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a single substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.