A (1:40)

You're such a busy woman. You're a mom of three, a mother to all, so the timing could not have been better. I have to show you a couple of things because before we get into the episode, I need you to know that you are sitting down with a super fan. Like, an actual lifelong fan. Okay, I have two pieces of proof to just prove my.

B (1:55)

You dress as me for Halloween.

A (1:57)

I did not dress as you for Halloween. I dressed as you for Purim, which is Jewish Halloween. Oh, I have a photo.

B (2:02)

Hot.

A (2:03)

Yes.

B (2:04)

And are you there?

A (2:05)

I was probably like the 10th grade. So 2010.

B (2:08)

You killed it.

A (2:08)

Thank you. Then I also ran for student government on a campaign that was very Snooki themed. I did not win, which was disgraceful. Nobody in my school could appreciate it.

B (2:17)

Stop.

A (2:17)

It says CEO Claudia Ashrae for go, which was like the government organization GTL for senior Vice president for svp. Do you want tanning booths in the locker Rooms. Do you want pickles in the salad bar? Wait, Next. Want next Shabbaton to be at the Jersey shore? I went to a Jewish school. Vote Ashrae. I have.

B (2:34)

And you didn't win. Can you believe that's insane.

A (2:37)

Uncultured swine. They didn't appreciate it.

B (2:38)

Rude.

A (2:39)

Do you feel like you weren't appreciated in your own time?

B (2:42)

No, I feel like I was. I mean, I definitely feel like I was judged a lot for who I was, but, like, I feel like I got more love than I did hate.

A (2:49)

Yeah.

B (2:50)

You know what I mean?

A (2:50)

I want to walk through, like, literally since birth, your whole journey, because to me, you are so interesting. First of all, you were adopted.

B (2:58)

Adopted, yes.

A (3:00)

And you grew up in Poughkeepsie.

B (3:02)

Well, I grew up in Marro.

A (3:03)

Okay.

B (3:04)

But it's such a small town in upstate New York that I said Poughkeepsie. Cuz that's like the biggest.

A (3:09)

Oh, like the biggest.

B (3:10)

Everyone knows Poughkeepsie. Yeah.

A (3:11)

Oh, that's so interesting.

B (3:12)

Yeah. But I was across the bridge in a little town called Marro. Oh, how I grew up on an apple orchard.

A (3:17)

You're kidding.

B (3:18)

Yeah. And I like, rode four wheelers. I was like a tomboy.

A (3:21)

You're kidding.

B (3:22)

Swear.

A (3:22)

And so how did you, like, spend your time as a kid doing the four wheelers?

B (3:27)

I did girl scouts. I did competitive gymnastics for 13 years.

A (3:31)

Well, you're now also, like a big cheer mom, so.

B (3:34)

Yeah, so. No, yeah, I was busy with like, gymnastics and four wheeling and all the things.

A (3:40)

Wow, that's so not what I see for you.

B (3:42)

I know.

A (3:42)

And when we watched your audition tape, that also was not the energy that.

B (3:45)

Was given because after high school, I like, I started to like the Italian, like, Jersey Boys. And I was like, I feel like I don't belong here. Like, everyone's listening to country music and doing their own thing and I. I want house music and I want to go out and go to the clubs and my friends wanted to like, bar hop more. So I was like, I don't belong here anymore. So I always knew that I was gonna move to Jersey.

A (4:06)

And what part of Jersey did you move to first?

B (4:10)

Well, no, when me and Gianni started dating, I basically just moved into his house. Wow. Like right away. So East Hanover.

A (4:17)

Okay, so you are. What were you like as a kid? Because when you bust onto the scene when you were 21 on Jersey Shore, you had a personality like I've never seen. Like, you were just oozing with personality. What were as a kid and like, do you feel like you were understood as a kid?

B (4:31)

As a kid, I was. I was definitely crazy and outgoing, but I was super shy at first. Like, if I. If I didn't know you. If I was, like, around people I didn't know or an uncomfortable situation, I was shy, and everyone thought I was, like a. I was like, no, I'm just shy. Like, I don't know how to start a conversation, but then once I get cozy, then the Snooki comes out.

A (4:51)

Were you. Do you feel like you still had that shyness when you got cast on the show, or by then you had totally shed it?

B (4:58)

No, I feel like I shed it.

A (4:59)

Yeah.

B (4:59)

I feel like I grew into my own, and I feel like if I did have any of the shyness, it definitely went away because I was, like, thrown into a crazy situation.

A (5:06)

Right. And everyone was in the same sort of situation as you. Did anybody know each other prior? Yeah. Wait.

B (5:11)

So I was so annoyed because I. So I have, like, a lot of friends that try it out.

A (5:15)

Oh, why? Did you even hear about it? MySpace?

B (5:19)

No, no. So I saw an ad on Facebook, and it was, like, calling all guidos guidads. And I was like. That was the time where I was like, I need to move to Jersey. This is not me anym. So then I tried out for that, but a lot of my friends at Poughkeepsie were trying out, and I was like, oh, my God, you're definitely gonna make it. I knew Dina from MySpace.

A (5:37)

Oh, you're kidding.

B (5:37)

Me and her were, like, besties on MySpace.

A (5:39)

Had you ever met in real life?

B (5:40)

No, but, like, we talked so much online that we were like bestie pen pals that I knew once I met her was gonna be awkward. So I was really looking forward to seeing her in the house when I walked in. So when I walked in, I didn't see any of them, and I'm like, where the fuck is everyone?

A (5:54)

Oh, my God.

B (5:54)

And I was so annoyed.

A (5:55)

Did any of the other people know each other from home or Internet or anything?

B (5:59)

Yeah. So Mike. Mike knew of Sam. He used to date Angelina, and then Ange and Vinnie knew each other because they both grew up on Staten Island.

A (6:09)

So a lot of what I know. So I watched the show as it was live. I was obsessed with it along with everybody else. I've also recently rewatched it many, many times, and it is the type of show that gets better over time, and it really holds up really well. And I became really obsessed with, like, what was going on behind the scenes because I read Mike's book, which was an amazing memoir. Obviously, his story is so different with his addiction and everything. Would you ever write a book? I know you've written a fict book.

B (6:33)

Yeah.

A (6:34)

So I wrote sure Thing.

B (6:35)

A sure Thing. And then I did Confessions of a Guida. So that was like, a guide on how to be a guida. No, but then I did baby bumps, so that was kind of like party girl turning into motherhood. And, like, that transition, that was, like, hard, but not really hard. You know what I mean?

A (6:50)

I have a lot of questions for you about that too.

B (6:52)

Yeah, so I did a couple books about, like, parenting and stuff, but I never did, like.

A (6:56)

Like a full memoir.

B (6:57)

Yeah, no, I never did that.

A (6:58)

I feel like people would love it. I thought Mike's book was amazing, especially because it was such an interesting time. You gu very much. Like, on the cusp of reality TV now is very cool. Everybody does it. Kardashians have a show. But for a while, it was considered, like, kind of taboo. And you guys got so famous, and I'm sure you were, like, on red carpets at events. And I'm really curious, like, what. How did people receive you in the industry, like, other celebrities?

B (7:23)

Oh, they thought we were insane. They were like, they don't belong here. I remember I went to the Grammys, and I still wore my fur coat, and I had a BB dress on. Like, I thought it was cool, but I didn't know, like, how to act or, like, how to dress. So, no, we didn't. We didn't fit in, and everyone thought we were idiots.

A (7:37)

But you guys, which I love.

B (7:38)

I don't care.

A (7:38)

Yeah, of course. And the cool thing about you guys is, like, you got so famous so quickly, so wealthy so quickly. And I think a lot of people would change who they are, how they dress, how they talk, everything about them. And you guys all look the same. You act the same, you dress the same. It's really. It's very cool to see not. You're not, like, you know, changing so, so drastically from. From the gal that got famous.

B (8:02)

I think it's from our parents and how we were raised, like, the Italian culture and just, you know, working for what you have and appreciating what you have, you know, my parents definitely taught me that, and my dad helped me with all the money because I definitely would have spent it all. Like, I was getting, like, Gucci bags. Like, I could never afford that. I always had $20 to my name every single week. I would lose.

B (8:26)

Gas in my car. My dad would have to Come pick me up. Like, I literally had no money, so my dad definitely helped me with, you know, putting it where it needs to be and saving. So thank God for my dad.

A (8:36)

No, of course. Because you go from being someone who, like, you said $20 in your account at all times to enormous wealth. Can you walk me through at what point in the show you guys started? Cause at first it was like a sort of experimental show. You all got cast, you were excited to be there. I'm sure you were happy getting whatever. How much you get paid?

B (8:50)

The first season, we didn't get paid anything. So I literally just went for the experience because I always said I wanted to be on a reality show and. But I was thinking more of, like, real world, like, 15 minutes of fame and then go back to my life and just say that I did it, you know, So I wasn't expecting it to, like, be a career and life changing.

A (9:07)

Right.

B (9:08)

Which, you know, I'm so grateful for. Like, thank you.

A (9:10)

I love it.

B (9:12)

But, no, I just went for the first season just to stay at the Shore house for free because I knew I wasn't paying for the shorthouse cracking up.

A (9:18)

And you just wanted to. Because I was going anyway, summer there.

B (9:21)

Right, Right. And I just had broken up with my boyfriend, so I was, like, miserable. I just wanted to go and have a good time, meet new people and do reality. Like, I always wanted to. So, yeah, we didn't get paid from MTV or anything, but the Shore Store, Danny would give us $200 every single Friday to go out and, like, party. And I'm like, I've never had $200.

A (9:41)

And that's why when I was watching the show, I'm like, I wonder why they're going to this job. Like, you don't really have to. Especially, I think, later on in the seasons when you guys are making a lot of money, you're like, why the hell am I going to make T shirts at the Shore Store? But in the beginning, like, you really needed to show up just to, like, make money.

B (9:55)

No, that was literally our job.

A (9:56)

That's so crazy.

B (9:58)

Yeah.

A (9:58)

And then the first season right out of the gate, like, everyone's obsessed with it. It is the funniest, greatest thing. It's a real look into this subculture, which a lot of people. I'm from New York, so, like, I was familiar with the Shore.

B (10:09)

Right.

A (10:09)

But people who don't live in this area, like, have no idea what it's like.

B (10:12)

Yeah. They were like, who are these creatures?

A (10:14)

Yeah.

B (10:15)

Why are they dressed like that? Why are they talking like that?

A (10:17)

And you had your own language. You created all these words. Gorilla, juice, head. Like, it was so fun, and it was so funny, and it was so different than anything that was on TV at the time. And you just blew up overnight, and you started making money, I'm sure, from, like, you know, appearances and brand deals. What was the first big thing you bought?

B (10:35)

I want to say cars. So I think I got. Because my car was breaking down. Remember first season, Right. Yeah.

A (10:41)

Yeah.

B (10:41)

I had a 94 Accord, and I loved it. It was, like, my best thing, but it wasn't working, and I need a new car. So what did I get? Oh, I got a stick BMW, because I always want to drive stick, but I bought it not knowing how to drive stick.

A (10:55)

When you see season two, everybody's driving up. They're driving up in, like, insanely nicer cars than they were the season before.

B (10:59)

Yeah. So I bought. I bought me a car, and then I bought my parents a car, and then I paid off my mom's or my grandmother's mortgage.

A (11:08)

Shut up. Was that the best feeling ever?

B (11:11)

Yes. She was my everything. So I was like, I need to do everything for you because you're too old. And.

A (11:17)

Yeah, before. Before the show. You're very much a hustler. We're in your store right now, and I asked you. I thought you had two locations. You have four.

B (11:23)

Yes.

A (11:23)

You have not stopped working since you became a mom. Since you're such a hustler, like, where do you get that from? Because I think a lot of people in your situation wouldn't. You probably make, like, mailbox money from various shows and things, and you could, but you really don't stop.

B (11:37)

Yeah. That's why I'm so grateful that you came to my store today.

A (11:40)

And let me tell you guys, the store is insanely cute.

B (11:42)

Thank you.

A (11:43)

I've never been here before. I've seen it on Instagram.

B (11:44)

So this is my first location in Madison, New Jersey. I had, like, a smaller location, but we moved here. So this is, like, the hub of everything, where I have everything. But, no, I'm saying thank you for coming here because I've been so busy with filming the show. I just got back from a cheer competition. I'm literally dying inside from being run down. And I appreciate you being here.

A (12:05)

It's my pleasure to see, like, this actual cultural landmark. Yeah, you. So, yeah, you do a lot, but you also have three kids, and your journey to becoming a mom was, I think, really unexpected. And I'm curious how the Group and then the network, because then you did have subsequent shows. But the show changed when you became a mom because you really were. I think if somebody else had gotten pregnant, it might not have affected the show in such a big way. But you were really, like, the heart and soul of the group. I think you were a fan favorite. And it was kind of an unexpected life change when you got pregnant for the audience.

B (12:35)

Well, it definitely wasn't planned, but I'm grateful that it happened, obviously, because Lorenzo's 13 now. Crazy. I know he's a teenager now and, oh, he's just my everything. And he really changed my life for the better. Because I feel like if I didn't have him, like, would me and Gianni, like, end up getting married and be together? Or would, like, something happen? Or would I be partying and, like, too hard and something went wrong? Like, I never dabbled in the drugs, but, like, I was going hard, partying and, like, doing these club appearances, like, traveling. Like, would I. Would something have happened? You know what I mean? Right. So I think it happened at the best time.

A (13:11)

Yeah, of course. And that's the crazy thing about the show. I don't remember thinking it when I was watching it, but now when I rewatch it as a grown person, I'm like, that's insane. Hours you guys were doing, you were really partying till four or five, six in the morning and then literally sleeping for two hours and going to work.

B (13:24)

That's how I met Joey.

A (13:25)

Oh, you're kidding.

B (13:27)

Yes.

A (13:27)

Where?

B (13:28)

So I. I think I was flying back from Vegas and I literally got zero sleep. And I walked in still drunk at 7am and he said, I, like, ran in and I smelled like alcohol and cigarettes. And I just sat in the chair and I'm like, just make me pretty.

A (13:41)

Yeah.

B (13:41)

And then I brought vodka and I was like, can we just do a shot? Because I'm gonna. I'm gonna end up. Yeah. Getting sick. And he was like, yeah, let's do it.

A (13:50)

What, like, appearance were you doing? What were you getting ready for?

B (13:53)

It was like a Mac make.

A (13:56)

Right. Because Joey was a makeup artist.

B (13:58)

Exactly.

A (13:58)

That's so funny.

B (13:59)

So that's how I met Joey. And that's when I was like, that's when the hours were crazy and I was going nuts.

A (14:04)

Yeah. And so I know because of Mike's book that he was, like, on his own journey in terms of drugs. But it's hard to watch that show and imagine was nobody doing drugs. Like, how really were you guys staying up so late and filming A full TV show and then working at the short store and then partying the next night, doing it all over again. Very rarely did one of you. Did one of you stay back and do nothing.

B (14:23)

I think it's. Cause we were young, and we could just bounce back. I know I can't do that anymore.

A (14:27)

Right? Of course.

B (14:27)

But, like, if me and Dina went hard for a couple days, they would let us sleep till, like, 5:00pm okay. So, like, you see everyone doing GTL. Like, Paulie didn't really drink. Vinny didn't really drink. Obviously, Mike, like, did his thing. Right. Mike wasn't really a drinker.

A (14:40)

Right.

B (14:40)

He was on other things. And then Jenny. Jenny would drink sometimes here and there, and Sam. So I think it was really me and Dina that was, like, going really crazy.

A (14:49)

You also really carried the show.

B (14:51)

Like, and the meatballs were nuts.

A (14:52)

Yeah, the meatballs were everything.

B (14:54)

So they would. They would let us sleep till, like.

A (14:56)

5Pm but we just didn't see that.

B (14:57)

You didn't see it. So you saw everybody else go to work, do their thing. Gtl. And then you would just see us wake up and start over again.

A (15:05)

When you would finish wrapping a season, how do you recover from that physically? Like, what do you do?

B (15:10)

Back in the day? Yeah, back in the day, I would just go home, sleep for a week, and then you would be going on these club appearances.

A (15:17)

Got it. So it really never stopped.

B (15:19)

It was never stopping.

A (15:20)

Did a part of you, like, feel find relief in it ending?

B (15:25)

No. No. Because I loved it so much, and I'm like, what's gonna happen now? So when I got pregnant with Lorenzo and then that was the last season of Jersey Shore, I was like, okay. Like, what are we gonna do now? And then network was like, we want to see you become mom. Let's do Snooki and jwow.

A (15:40)

Okay, we need to talk about. Okay, we need to talk about Snooki and jwow. You guys living in the converted firehouse. That was not real.

B (15:45)

I can't.

A (15:45)

You were pregnant or had you given birth yet during that show?

B (15:47)

No, I was.

A (15:48)

Was.

B (15:49)

I think eight, nine months pregnant.

A (15:50)

Insane.

B (15:51)

And I was actually living.

A (15:52)

I was gonna say it was Jenny also.

B (15:53)

Yes.

A (15:54)

You guys were fully living there with your partners?

B (15:56)

No Giant. No. It was just me and her.

A (15:58)

Insane.

B (15:59)

I wanted to die because I was like, this is my first time giving birth, and I want to be with my man. Of course. So I'm, like, leaving the. I'm leaving the firehouse with Jenny to go meet him at a doctor's. Appointment. And then I go back to the house with Jenny and he goes home.

B (16:15)

What is this? I'm like, this is not how I. I wanted to experience my first pregnancy.

A (16:21)

Was it a well paying gig, that show?

B (16:23)

Well, yeah.

A (16:24)

Okay.

B (16:24)

Yeah.

A (16:25)

So you were providing for your family?

B (16:26)

Yeah, it was fine. So then obviously after I gave birth, then we moved into like more of a. Like a family style theme. So, like, I was with Gianni and I felt cozy and Jenny was with her family. So I like how that played out.

A (16:39)

Yeah.

B (16:40)

But yeah, the first season was hard.

A (16:41)

It's very cool that you and Jenny ended up. And I know, you know, Roger and Jenny are no longer. But that's the father of her children. They were together for a really long time. Like people from the show, characters we know, you really ended up having like a happily ever after, which you don't see a lot. How did you meet Gianni?

B (16:57)

At Karma, of course. Remember, I called him Mario Brother and I was like, he'll do. And then I was like, oh, never see him again.

A (17:04)

Right.

B (17:04)

And then I was like, wait. I actually, like, liked him and he was really cute. And then Ron was like, you should really call him when you get out of here. I was like, Ron, you know what, you're right. I was like, I'll try because I always, you know, went down the shore to find love. I wanted to find my hopeless gorilla juice head and, you know, have babies. Like, that was the goal for me.

A (17:23)

And you did it.

B (17:24)

Yeah. So I was like, I'm just gonna call him and we'll see what happens.

A (17:27)

How old were you in your first pregnancy?

B (17:29)

24.

A (17:30)

Wow.

B (17:31)

So.

A (17:32)

And you started the show at 21. How many seasons were there? There was six total, but it wasn't six years because you guys were Florence and you, like, did two shoes.

B (17:42)

It was. It was a lot. Yeah.

A (17:44)

That's insane.

B (17:44)

I think we did two seasons a year. Does that make sense? Yeah.

A (17:47)

And you guys were also not only doing Jersey, you did Miami, you did Florence, which was.

B (17:51)

Yeah, Miami, I think was the longest season. And I ended up having to, like, go to the hospital and get an iv.

A (17:59)

Oh, wow.

B (18:00)

So I'm like, I can't drink like this anymore.

A (18:02)

Yeah, yeah. Did you like filming outside of Jersey, like in Miami, in Florence?

B (18:06)

I did, yeah. But I didn't like how long it was. It was like a month and a half.

A (18:10)

Yeah.

B (18:10)

I like vacations where it's like a wee, of course, but like a month. And then you're filming the show and you're doing it 24 7. It's a lot.

A (18:18)

Whatever happened to Ryder? Do I still talk Ryder?

B (18:21)

No, but I. I don't have, like, bad blood with her. I just feel like, you know, our lives were very different. Like, I was, you know, gonna have a baby and my life was gonna change, and she was. She was kind of like my party friend. Like, we had fun together. And if I were to, like, go to a bar, I'm calling her, I'm like, let's go have a good time. So I feel like obviously she wasn't pregnant. She wasn't ready to do all that.

A (18:44)

Right.

B (18:45)

So we kind of just drifted apart. But no bad blood.

A (18:48)

No, of course. That was an iconic friendship. You're sort of a part of many iconic duos. You and Jenny, you and Dina, you and Joey. So you meet Joey, who is a fan favorite here at the Toast. I don't even know how I met him.

B (18:59)

I know.

A (19:00)

I instantly.

B (19:01)

I got jealous at first. I'm like, why are you hanging out with this girl so much?

A (19:03)

That's such a relatable. Thank you for being honest about that. I feel that way too, when somebody I know is friends with somebody who's kind of similar to me. Like, girl, get out of here.

B (19:10)

Yeah.

A (19:11)

So I appreciate you sharing your best friend and I appreciate Joey sharing his best friend. So you meet at an event and he's really become a part of the Jersey Shore family. I sometimes forget he wasn't on the original show, but he hangs out with you guys all the time.

B (19:24)

Yeah.

A (19:25)

He told us that you guys call him digital talent.

B (19:28)

Yeah. Or he's B Roll.

A (19:30)

Why B Roll?

B (19:31)

Because he's just always in the background and I know he wants to be the star, and I really try and push him. I'm like, can I bring Joey? Can I bring Joey? And they're like, no. Because, you know, Gianni hates filming and everyone brings their spouse. So I'm like, well, can I bring my gay husband then? Yeah. And yeah, I really try and push him to be in the limelight.

A (19:48)

Yeah.

B (19:48)

But no, but he'll get there. Yeah.

A (19:51)

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But you know, everybody, everybody likes to redeem points in their own way. It's quite personal. Paying rent is just better. With Built, you can earn rewards and finally get something back for being a renter. And the points from Build have been ranked the most valuable point currency by the points guy. And they just announced it. Built Cash, which is a way to unlock even more value from their partners. So join the loyalty program for renters@joinbuilt.com toast. That's J-O-I-N B I L T.com toast. Make sure to use that link so they know that we send you. That's join built.com toast and your kids. How do you feel now being a mom? Do you feel differently? Like, is your approach to reality TV different because you're still on reality tv? You're obviously not doing the same thing you were doing when you were 21, do you take a different approach to it now? Do you think a little bit more about it? You think less about it? Do you care?

B (26:03)

Do you like having them on tv, you mean?

A (26:04)

Yeah. And then also what you do and say on tv.

B (26:08)

I mean, as a mom, I try and be better on tv, but you know, sometimes the. The wine's flowing, of course, and me and Dina will be meatballs still sometimes. But when it comes to the kids on tv, like, I'll ask them, I'll be like, do you guys want to do the scene? Do you want to be, you know, on this with me? Lorenzo's like, no, I hate it. So I'm like, fine, I'm not gonna push you. Giovanna, she's iffy sometimes. She's like, yes and no. And then Angelo, he's six. So I'm like, do you want to do this, honey? And he's like, yeah. And then he's grabbing the camera and being fun. So I'm asking for consent now.

A (26:38)

Yep.

B (26:38)

And I'm not gonna push them to do something they don't want to do. But I mean, obviously I would love for my entire family to be a part of it.

A (26:44)

It's fun to watch. And it's also fun to watch you on social media, like, be so normal in so many ways. I think a lot of people relate to, like, you're kind of like this, this zealous cheer mom. You travel all over with your daughter.

B (26:57)

Yeah, non stop.

A (26:58)

Non stop. You're, you know, peeing your pants. You're at cheer competitions, screaming your head off.

B (27:03)

I peed my pants. I was like, I need to go to the hotel and change my underwear cuz I'm gonna get an infection. So you actually peed? I literally left and changed, yes.

A (27:11)

What do the other moms make of you, the moms at school? Like, I feel like it would be so fun if, like, Snooki was like a mom in my class.

B (27:20)

Well, I feel like, because everybody knows Gianni in the town, that it's just like, oh, this is Gianni's wife, because he grew up there. So like, Gianni's more of like the famous one because, you know, his family does wrestling and all of that. Yeah. So it's kind of like Gianni first, then me like, oh, cool. He would marry, you know, someone famous like that, so it's not that crazy. And he grew up with all the, all the parents, so it's like all of his friends. The cheer moms are a different story, but they treat Me Normal?

A (27:49)

Yeah.

B (27:49)

Which is nights. Like, I want to be treated normal. I don't want, like any special treatment. Like, I'm just a mom like you. Like, let's just be normal.

A (27:57)

And so you did gymnastics or cheer growing up?

B (28:00)

I did competitive gymnastics for 13 years. Wow. And then it just. It's a lot. It's a lot. It takes up a lot of your time.

B (28:09)

And I just. I wasn't in love with it anymore, so I was like, I want to do something similar. And then I started cheer and she was fun.

A (28:15)

I feel like you could have ended up being like an Olympic gymnast. You are. And it's very rare for me to, like, notice someone's height because nobody is shorter than me. When I give you a hug, I was shook. You are really a meatball.

B (28:24)

A meatball.

A (28:25)

You're four.

B (28:26)

Eight. Four, eight.

A (28:27)

That's insane.

B (28:28)

Or eight. I feel like I'm shrinking every single year. I'm gonna be like, struggling.

A (28:31)

Nona.

B (28:32)

When I'm a grandma, I'm like so small. I feel like so are you. I know we're gonna be shorties.

A (28:37)

I love being short. Do you love being short or do you feel like. Did you get bullied or anything?

B (28:41)

No, I love being short, like, cheer wise and like.

A (28:44)

Like gymnastics.

B (28:45)

Yeah, like being small. But like, if I was, I feel like I was. If I was three inches taller, I would be stretched out. Like, because, you know, if we gained 10 pounds, it looks like we gained 50.

A (28:54)

I always think about how, like, I would be the perfect weight If I was 6ft tall.

B (28:58)

Exactly.

A (28:58)

Yeah.

B (28:59)

Yeah. So it's annoying in that aspect, but no, I do like being short.

A (29:02)

You know, you also experienced like a major weight loss in the public eye. I'm curious what that was like. You know, I got told all the time growing up that I looked like you. And then when you got really skinny, like, nobody said that to me ever again. And your weight was also. There was a famous fight. Were you guys in Atlantic City when you said, pass the roles and situation said, you have enough already. Yeah, something like that.

B (29:22)

Yeah.

A (29:22)

What was that? Like? That must have been traumatizing. I probably would never forgive Mike the situation.

B (29:27)

Well, it took me a while to forgive him, but growing up, I definitely had an eating disorder.

B (29:33)

I feel like all of us have experienced that in some time. And even now it's just like, oh, I want to eat that. But, like, I don't want to gain weight. It's. It's just an ongoing cycle for us women and even men too. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. It's. It started really bad in high school with cheerleading, I think. Yeah, with cheerleading, because I was. I was a senior, and these small freshman girls were coming up. I didn't want to lose my flyer spot, so I literally got down to, like, £87 senior year. And my coach was like, this is not okay. And I was, like, fainting at practice. Yeah. And I was just eating, like, two cucumbers a day.

A (30:08)

Jesus.

B (30:08)

It got so bad. And then I was like, you need to, like, live your life and stop freaking out. So after high school, that's when I, like, started going out and, like, partying, and I was like, you know, I'm just gonna enjoy myself. So when I started Jersey Shore, I was kind of. That was like, my heaviest.

A (30:23)

Was it? Yeah.

B (30:25)

Season one.

A (30:25)

Do you feel like being on TV and being in the public eye? Major eating disorder worse?

B (30:30)

No, I just got fatter.

A (30:31)

Wow.

B (30:32)

If you see the seasons going, I just keep gaining weight. And I think it's just because I just felt okay with myself. I'm like, I was always confident in how I looked, but, yeah, the cheerleading didn't help, so my weight has been fluctuating for years.

A (30:46)

Your whole life.

B (30:47)

Down, up and down.

A (30:48)

Yeah. I think a lot of people can relate to that.

B (30:51)

Yeah.

A (30:51)

When I just look back at your entire career, and it's actually very cool that you guys are still doing the show. You're still so close. I can't think of a comparison to, like, another cast that's still really loves one another. It's not somebody who's on the outs. It's not somebody we don't talk to. Like, you're all pretty much, like, really family, and I think that reads. And when you guys got back together for the first reunion show, it was. It was a cultural reset. Like, it was.

B (31:15)

So it was at 2019, I guess. I think. Yeah.

A (31:19)

It was something I don't think people thought about. And then when we did it, we were like, oh, my God, I can't believe we've not had these people on our TV for so many years. You guys were really made for it. And now the show is very different. And you do a lot of, like, more personal home stuff, and you guys go to each other's weddings, and you're all having babies, and it's really fun to see. Do you think it will. Will you get to a point where you don't want to do it anymore? You think, no, no.

B (31:40)

We keep saying we're gonna do it until, like, we're in, you know, in diapers. At a nursing home. Like, we want to keep doing this forever. I don't know if it's going to be the same place.

A (31:49)

Right.

B (31:49)

Because a lot of things are changing right now. But, yeah, if we're done at this place, we're definitely going somewhere else. Like, we. We already have different agendas of what we're gonna do and how the show's gonna be, so, yeah, we want to be doing this forever.

A (32:02)

You guys are really built for it. Yeah. So Mike wrote the book, and a lot of the book, he talks about how the money was, like, gone because he spent it all on drugs. And at first, he was spending it all on cars, Then he had to sell the cars for drugs.

B (32:14)

Crazy.

A (32:15)

Like, I could not believe. I'm always recommending his book, because I think a lot of people have preconceived notions about it, and it's so, like, deep. And it's really interesting how candid he is about the money. And there was a time when you guys renegotiated your contracts as a group, Is that right?

B (32:31)

Yeah. Every single season.

A (32:32)

And you decided, like, no one was gonna get more, no one was gonna get less. We were all gonna be getting the same. If you're comfortable. What was the most you ever made per episode on the original show?

B (32:42)

Six figures.

A (32:43)

Wow. Wow.

B (32:44)

Yeah.

A (32:45)

And your dad was, like, instrumental in.

B (32:47)

Yes. Thank God.

A (32:48)

Yeah.

B (32:48)

Because I wanted to buy all these things.

A (32:50)

Right.

B (32:51)

About everything.

A (32:52)

Does he still have, like, any involvement in your business?

B (32:54)

Business, no. So he used to run my business, and then I was like, you know what? Like, I have two kids now. Like, I need to be able to do this myself. So I ended up taking over, and he. He felt a type of way about it, but I was like, dad, I need to be an adult. Yeah. I need to do this on my own. Like, I know I'm your baby always, but, like, I need to do this on my own. So I still have them on payroll, just, you know, being my parents and helping me out, of course. But, yeah, I. I ended up taking everything on my own.

A (33:21)

Do you think that when your parents adopted you, they had any idea, like, the fireball that you were. And you also recently shared on the show that you FaceTimed with your birth parents.

B (33:30)

Yeah.

A (33:31)

Can you talk about that a little bit?

B (33:32)

Yeah. So I never thought I would, like, reach out, because I never cared. Like, I. I always knew I was adopted. They never had to have a conversation with me, so I was like, I'm brown. You guys are white. Like, we don't look alike, but I Know, I always said, you bought me at a store, like, can you buy another one? Because I always want a brother. Sister.

A (33:48)

Did you have no siblings growing up?

B (33:49)

No. So annoyed.

A (33:50)

Oh, that's so interesting. You don't give only child.

B (33:53)

Really?

A (33:54)

Yeah.

B (33:55)

Everything should be about me. And I'm spoiled brother.

A (33:57)

I don't know. I just, like, made that up.

B (33:58)

Well, now I do that. I haven't met, so, yeah. I never thought that I would, like, want to reach out or, like, see. But then Angelina did it on the show because she found out her dad wasn't her dad.

A (34:09)

Wow.

B (34:09)

Yeah. And she end up using this genealogist who, like, finds people. So I was like, you know what? Let me just reach out to her. And all I wanted in the beginning was to get, like, a binder because I wanted to see what they look like. So I always hated the fact that my parents didn't look like me and nobody looked like me. But then when I had my kids, that kind of, like, filled the void.

A (34:27)

Totally.

B (34:27)

Yeah. It was like, lorenzo looks just like me. Giovanna's my twin.

A (34:30)

Your kids look just like you. I've seen their husband. Like, I literally see you.

B (34:34)

I know he's like, are these my kids?

A (34:36)

It's God's way of paying you back, like, for not having siblings or seeing yourself growing up.

B (34:39)

Yeah. So that kind of filled the void. But then I was like, you know what? I really want to see, like, what my birth mom looks like, if I have any siblings. So then that happened, and I was like, oh, my God, this is so cool. Like, I kind of want to text them. So it started out with a text, and then.

A (34:52)

And they were open to hearing from.

B (34:53)

You, but they have no idea who I am still, like, in terms of.

A (34:57)

Like, you being famous.

B (34:58)

Yeah, they have no. They don't know my name. They don't know who I am. They just know that I have a good life. And thank you for giving birth to me and giving me a better life and, you know, all the things. Of course. So I think my birth mom's grateful that she knows that I'm good because she had no idea where I went. It was a closed adoption.

A (35:16)

Where were you born?

B (35:18)

Santiago, Chile.

A (35:19)

Wow. And then your parents came to Santiago to adopt you?

B (35:24)

They came to pick me up.

A (35:25)

That's amazing.

B (35:26)

I know stuff.

A (35:27)

That's so cute. Your parents were such a. Such a great addition to the show. And your dad sort of being this, like, moral compass. Every time you were in trouble, you called him. Famously. When you got arrested, they had. They had to call your dad.

B (35:39)

I know.

A (35:40)

Walk me through that phone call. Like, what kind of parent was. Was he strict? Did you know he was going to be mad? But he was going to come anyway? Like, and what was the overall? Like, was he mad or was he more so just like, let me help.

B (35:53)

I knew he was going to be mad, but he wasn't going to be. Like, pack your bags. You have to leave. Because he loved the experience for me. My mom was more like, just leave. This isn't good for you. So my mom was more of like, you know, the loving. Like, this isn't good for you or your house. Like, you got to get out of there. My dad was like, what the fuck? But, you know, stay. This is fun. So it was like two different things. And I'm like, I think I'm gonna listen to my dad.

A (36:16)

Yeah.

B (36:17)

So I knew he was gonna be mad and hate me, but I knew he was gonna be there and help me.

A (36:20)

Yeah.

B (36:21)

And also when I called him, I was still drunk.

A (36:23)

Wait, okay, so can you walk me through? Cause my worst nightmare is going to prison. You got, like, thrown in the drunk tank?

B (36:27)

Yes.

A (36:28)

For how long?

B (36:29)

So I remember getting arrested. Well, it's all a blur, to be honest. Cause I was so drunk. But I remember going into the station and they were taking my picture, and I'm like, can you do that again? Cause I hated my pose. So that' have two iconic.

A (36:42)

And I see you're selling some merch with your. The store is, by the way, for a Jersey Shore fan, a dream.

B (36:47)

Uhhuh. Yeah. So I have two mug shots, and I hated both of them. So I got annoyed they wouldn't take another one. I'm like, come on.

A (36:53)

And they wouldn't delete like the other.

B (36:54)

I was like, I know this is gonna be on tmz. Can it be cute? But they didn't care.

A (36:57)

You knew at the time, like, you understood what was happening, like, that you were this famous person.

B (37:00)

I'm like, this is not gonna be great. I'm gonna be like Lindsay Lohan on freaking the COVID Crack everything. But they were very nice to me before they threw me in the drunk tank. They let me sit down on a spinny chair, and I was spinning, eating donuts, and then they threw me in. Then I passed out for a little bit, and then the roommates came to pick me up. And I thought it was the next day. I thought I was in there for 24 hours. So when I get into the car, I'm like, can we go to Denny's I was like, I need breakfast.

A (37:23)

I'm cracking.

B (37:24)

They were like, nicole, you've been in there for only like an hour and a half.

A (37:26)

Oh my God.

B (37:26)

I was like, oh, so net.

A (37:28)

Net. It wasn't that long.

B (37:29)

No, it was so quick.

A (37:30)

And did the cops obviously, like, everyone in town knew you. Yeah.

B (37:33)

Yeah.

A (37:34)

So like, you knew you were famous and you feel like they were a little bit nicer to you because of that?

B (37:38)

I think so. Such also, like, I wasn't being aggressive to them. I was like being funny. Right, Right. And I was like, oh my God, what's gonna happen? Am I gonna die?

A (37:46)

Yeah.

B (37:46)

Like, is someone gonna touch me?

A (37:47)

Like, if I was a cop, I would have like loved my day at work that day just picking you up.

B (37:52)

I'm sure it was the best day of their lives.

A (37:54)

You gave it all like, you really did. Am I right in remembering that you have some sort of beef with Andy Cohen? Did he say something like not nice once or twice about you?

B (38:03)

Yeah. But it was more of just like, you know, is she ever gonna be a housewife?

A (38:08)

Right.

B (38:08)

And he was like, no, we don't want her. Like, something like that. And I'm like, it's fine, Andy. I don't want to come over there.

A (38:13)

Yeah, right.

B (38:14)

We're fine now.

A (38:15)

Okay.

B (38:15)

Okay. We're fine.

A (38:16)

Do you find yourself holding grudges? Are you like a. A grudgy person?

B (38:20)

Not really. But if you really do me dirty, like, I. I'll just dead you.

A (38:24)

Yeah.

B (38:24)

Like I want nothing to do with you ever again.

A (38:26)

You'll never see me again.

B (38:27)

Right.

A (38:27)

I love that.

B (38:27)

Yeah. I'm a Sagittarius.

A (38:29)

When's your birthday?

B (38:31)

Yeah. November 23rd. I was gonna say September.

A (38:33)

Oh, it's just your birthday. Happy birthday.

B (38:34)

Yeah.

A (38:35)

How did you celebrate?

B (38:36)

I really did nothing. I just went out to eat with.

A (38:39)

That's so mom of three.

B (38:40)

Yeah, well, we actually, we went out to eat and then my mother in law took the kids, so we went to my shore house and just stayed there for the night.

A (38:46)

So fine. Kid free. Of course.

B (38:47)

So it was nice.

A (38:48)

You know, I'm very much in my mom era and it's really like quite admirable that you have this very successful business. You. How many months out of the year do you film?

B (38:59)

Like four months. No, five months.

A (39:01)

And you also are a full time mom. You have three kids. I watch you on Instagram. You do the cheer, you do school drop off like you.

B (39:08)

The stores.

A (39:09)

The stores. What.

A (39:13)

What would you say is the key now? Not everyone can do it all but you seem to be balancing it well, how, what do you attribute that to?

B (39:21)

I don't know. Okay.

A (39:22)

Okay.

B (39:23)

I don't know. I appreciate everyone always ask me and I'm like, I don't know how I do it. They're like, you're so busy. And I, and I think I'm great at multitasking and I like being busy because I feel like if I'm just sitting, I feel useless and I feel like I'm not doing anything work wise or like helping my kids future or making money for them. You know what I mean?

A (39:39)

Of course.

B (39:40)

So I like being busy. But I, I'm a good sleeper. So I think sleep really helps me. Like I can be in bed by seven and sleep, sleep all night. So I like sleeping. So maybe the sleeping.

A (39:51)

Did your relationship with money change a lot when you had kids?

B (39:55)

Like spending wise?

A (39:56)

Just like, like I feel like I've always been really. My sister calls me cheap, but I don't like that word. Just like I'm very conscious of money. Like I'm very financially, I like to think prudent. And when I became a mom, I let, I let go of it a little bit because it's like, well, you know, this is what's best for me. This is what's best for my family. Like it, you know, so I feel like I had a little bit of a shift in relationship with money. But you say like, you know, you grew up without it and then you, you got a ton of it and then you became a mom and you think about it a little bit more. Do you find that that's been your experience?

B (40:24)

Yeah, I feel like I just wanted their futures to be secure. So all my kids are set for college. So God forbid something like dies down. Right. And I, I don't have the income that I'm having. Like they're already their school.

A (40:38)

Yeah.

B (40:39)

So I'm making sure they're good for life. And then also like in the future, like if they need, need help with weddings or you know, their kids or housing, like everything is wow, good for them.

A (40:49)

Do your kids hang out a lot with your cast members? Kids, play dates, things of that?

B (40:53)

We try to, yeah. But everyone's so far away.

A (40:55)

Right. Does everyone in New Jersey.

B (40:58)

So me, Jenny, Sam, Dina and Mike all live in Jersey?

A (41:03)

Live in Jersey, but in different parts.

B (41:05)

Scattered. Yeah, it's scattered.

A (41:06)

Got it.

B (41:07)

People don't realize how big Jersey is.

A (41:08)

I know. And then so like how often are you guys really seeing each other?

B (41:12)

Well, I mean now it was like every day because we're still wrapping up filming. But, yeah, when we. When we're not filming, it's very hard to get together because everyone's doing their own thing.

A (41:21)

Yeah. It's just been a. It's nice to see you guys having such longevity in your careers, because I feel like everyone I've met from Jersey Shore is super nice. We've had Mike on the show. We've had Vinnie on the show. Oh, my God. When I tell you, when I was watching the show, the way I was rooting for you and Vinnie so hard, I was probably, like, making fan edits on Twitter, like, pictures of you.

B (41:39)

Oh, my God, I can't.

A (41:40)

And then when I went back and re watched, I didn't feel so much the same. I feel like he was actually kind of, like, stringing you along and, like, pretending to be, like, no offense, it's like, kind of, like a good guy, and he was just, like, kind of being a dick. Sometimes.

A (41:53)

When you look back on, like, your romantic relationships on the show, do you cringe? You look back on it like, oh, so cute. Lovingly.

B (42:01)

I just look at it as an experience, I guess, but, like, also cringe, like, why did I do that? Or why was I so obsessed with this situation? Like, I don't feel like that now, obviously. So, like, looking back, I'm just like, oh, God, why?

A (42:14)

Yeah.

B (42:15)

So I'm glad that everything worked out the way it did.

A (42:19)

Do you look back positively on your Dancing with the Stars journey? Such an underrated. You crushed it.

B (42:26)

Thank you.

A (42:27)

And so now hearing you have, like, a background in gymnastics and dance makes a lot of sense.

B (42:33)

Learning the routine, like, the counties, doing.

A (42:35)

Like, a flip, a back handspring. You were flipping. You were incredible.

B (42:39)

Thank you.

A (42:40)

Did you love that?

B (42:41)

It was the best experience of my life.

A (42:42)

It was.

B (42:43)

And when I got voted off, I told Dina, the producer, I was like, if you do another all Star season of, like, people that got let go too early, I was like, you had to bring me back.

A (42:54)

Yeah.

B (42:54)

Because I was like, I feel like I had so much more to give.

A (42:57)

Yes.

B (42:57)

And, yeah, it sucked.

A (42:59)

The oh, Mickey dance. And that was also your red hair era.

B (43:01)

I know.

A (43:03)

How was life? Is that.

B (43:03)

And that was my fit era.

A (43:05)

Yes. You are tight and fit. You were dancing for your life.

B (43:08)

I was fit and, like, muscly. I'm trying to get back to that. But, yeah, that was, like, my best era.

A (43:13)

Red hair. How was life as a redhead?

B (43:14)

It's hard.

A (43:15)

Yeah.

B (43:16)

Yeah. Because you have to keep, like, fixing it every two weeks. And I had Like, a million extensions in. My hair is very thick. I had eight bundles in.

A (43:22)

Wow.

B (43:23)

So my head was, like.

A (43:24)

And heavy. You had kids at that point?

B (43:26)

Yeah, I only had Lorenzo.

A (43:28)

And you all moved to LA to do that show?

B (43:30)

No, I kept flying back and forth.

A (43:31)

You're kidding.

B (43:32)

Yeah.

A (43:32)

That's hard.

B (43:33)

It was hard.

A (43:34)

How old was Lorenzo?

B (43:37)

Not even a year, I feel. Or maybe a year.

A (43:39)

And we were just talking before that. You breastfed your kids?

B (43:42)

Yes.

A (43:44)

Okay. So I'm obsessed with breastfeeding, and I love to, like, talk to somebody else about it. Obsessed. Did you find it hard to balance work? It's hard enough, like, being a mom and doing others and literally anything else, but then also kind of being attached to the house every three hours, feeding, feeding, feeding. Like, I. I love it, but it's hard.

B (44:02)

Yeah. So when I breastfed, Giovanna was the best one that I did. Lorenzo, he didn't really latch on, so I only did three months, which that really made me cry because I always said, like, I'm gonna breastfeed till they're, you know, one and. Yeah, but, like, biting me, and that's when it's gonna stop. So Lorenzo was only three months, but I'm glad that I did it. So we got a little bit of it, but Giovanna, she was a trooper. And we did a full year until she bit my nipple. And I literally. We were on the bed, I kind of threw her.

A (44:28)

Yeah.

B (44:29)

I was like, ow.

A (44:29)

We're done?

B (44:30)

Yeah. I'm like, we're done. That's it. So I put the cabb on.

A (44:34)

You did?

B (44:34)

Yes. It works.

A (44:35)

It does. How long?

B (44:37)

I don't remember.

A (44:38)

A couple of days.

B (44:39)

I don't remember. I feel like I did it for a week.

A (44:41)

Okay.

B (44:42)

Hurts.

A (44:42)

Yes, it does.

B (44:43)

You get so bad.

A (44:44)

Like, engorge. And actually, it's like your phone listens to you so much. I was like, all I do is talk about how I'm gonna start reading breastfeeding, and then what pops up on my TikTok? A girl who lost her leg because she was weaning, got an infection, got a clog, went to the hospital, got a staff infection and lost her leg.

B (44:58)

Oh, God. I know.

A (44:59)

I'm like, okay, that's gonna happen to me now. Now.

B (45:00)

Okay. No, just do the cabbage leaves, and then in the shower, express them a little.

A (45:05)

Oh, yeah.

B (45:06)

So that'll give relief. You'll be fine. Yeah, you'll be fine. If I did it, you could do it.

A (45:11)

Yeah. No, it's really such a. It's such. And that's why whenever I meet someone who said it, I always like have a million questions for them because I feel like it's a sisterhood. It's really hard, especially if you are a working mom.

B (45:22)

Yeah. So I definitely, when I was working, obviously I pumped and I left a lot in the fridge and you know, I would bring my pump now. Now they have pumps that. Because back in the day I would have to do the thing.

A (45:32)

Yep.

B (45:32)

And go.

A (45:33)

That's still the best pump, by the way. That's still the best pump. The ones that you like shoving your bra. Yeah.

B (45:37)

You could walk around and just pump.

A (45:39)

They do not work. Unless you have like the tiniest tits ever. Like.

B (45:42)

No.

A (45:43)

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What is your relationship with plastic surgery? Like, are you open? Like Joey and I are always talking about like what we want to get done, what we've gotten done.

B (51:43)

Yeah, it's very open.

A (51:43)

Yeah. What have you gotten done, if you don't mind me asking?

B (51:46)

So I do Botox and I just. So I get over here and I've been doing it for a couple years now, but I just started my chin cuz I realized when I smile it looks like I have cellulite ass on my chin. Do you have that yet?

A (51:58)

No, I'm sure it's in my Future. Yeah.

B (52:00)

Yeah. So 38, you'll probably get it.

A (52:02)

Like what you get like, like dimples kind of.

B (52:04)

Yeah. But it looks like cellulite on your thighs. It's really ugly. So I'm like, I don't know what this is, but can you start doing that? So I do that and then I just got my boobs done.

A (52:14)

I'm so jealous.

B (52:15)

But that was like 11 years ago because then I had two more kids, so they dropped and yeah, and I. And I got a lift. But I didn't know that when you get a lift you have to put a little implant in.

A (52:25)

Yeah, right.

B (52:26)

And I already had big boobs, so I was like, I don't want to do that. So they did a little. So. So I think hopefully this year I'm gonna redo Them.

A (52:34)

Congrats. Okay. That's, like, what I'm looking forward to most. Like, when I'm done having kids, whatever that may be, the first stop will be the doctor's office for breastfeeding. No. I've always had huge moves. I've always wanted a reduction and a lift, but I always. It was always, like, a goal of mine to breastfeed my kids. So I was like, you know what? I will do it once and I'll do it after all of this. And let me tell you, that day can't come soon enough.

B (52:54)

Well, don't you want more kids?

A (52:55)

Yeah. So I gotta wait. Wait.

B (52:56)

I would. Wait.

A (52:57)

Did you want more than three kids? Did you think you would have less?

B (53:00)

I always wanted four. Oh, my number was four because that's, like, my lucky number. I do everything in fours. Like four stores. Yeah, four is my number. It's like my angel number. So I always said I was gonna. I was gonna have four kids. But then after Angelo, I was like, oh, this is a lot. Yeah. And I feel like I don't. I always felt like a soul up there, and I don't feel that anymore. So I got a dog.

A (53:21)

What kind of dog?

B (53:22)

A sheephead.

A (53:23)

What's. Joey told me her name. Rocky.

B (53:26)

Yeah. So Rocky is my fourth, and I love him so much. And, yeah, he's my everything.

A (53:30)

I love that.

B (53:31)

Like, when I go away on trips, I, like, obviously I miss the kids, but I hug Rocky first.

A (53:34)

I'm cracking.

B (53:35)

I know. The kids are like, mommy. And I'm like, rocky, that's so bad.

A (53:40)

Do you spend a lot of time away from home besides filming the show? Like, you try. Are you the type of mom who takes her kids everywhere, or you always are, like, doing, you know, your own thing?

B (53:48)

No. So usually when I go to work, I don't bring the kids because they can't leave for sports and I don't want to take them out for school. Right. So basically suffer and I'm alone, but I give myself three nights away.

A (53:58)

Yeah.

B (53:58)

I will not do more than three nights because then I will freak out. And I know when I get home, the house is going to be a disaster. Like, when Mommy's not home, the place is a mess. Like, it's very disorganized.

A (54:09)

Do you think of the day when one of your kids comes to you and says, I was slipping through the channels and I saw Jersey Shore. Do you want them to see it? Do you not want them to have.

B (54:17)

They have on TikTok.

A (54:19)

Oh, my God.

B (54:20)

Tick, tock, tick Tock ruined my life with that. So, yeah, Lorenzo saw me drunk on the beach, like, getting arrested, but he was like, what are you doing here, Mom? It's so embarrassing. And I'm like, lorenzo, this is acting like they told me to do it and I had to pretend. So they. They do think that it was all pretend and I was acting. But, you know, one day you'll figure it out. Yeah. I'll be like, you know, that was before Mommy and.

A (54:42)

Right.

B (54:42)

That was her party era, so just don't get as crazy as Mommy did.

A (54:46)

Were there any elements of the show that were scripted? Like, were you ever told to do something? Was it, like, heavily produced?

B (54:51)

Unfortunately, no.

A (54:52)

No. You could tell that it was a.

B (54:53)

I would love to blame it on production and fakeness, but no, tell when.

A (54:58)

You'Re watching it that, like, it's so real.

B (55:00)

Yeah, it was crazy.

A (55:01)

Yeah, that house was insane, too. That outdoor area that you guys had with the Jacuzzi.

B (55:06)

The first house.

A (55:06)

Yeah.

B (55:07)

Oh, yeah. We thought it was a mansion.

A (55:08)

I mean, whose roof was that? Because you would, like, walk across.

B (55:12)

So it's on that property because you go up the stairs, but it's on top of the shore store, because Danny.

A (55:18)

Owns the shore store and the house, so he was, like, your landlord, so.

B (55:22)

I guess that wasn't there. And they ended up building it out right before the show, so.

A (55:25)

And does Danny still own the house outright?

B (55:27)

Yeah.

A (55:27)

And you can book it on Airbnb.

B (55:28)

You can book it on Airbnb, or you could do a house tour. I think he charges, like, $10.

A (55:32)

Okay. He's under. Good for him. Good for him. Such an iconic store, such an iconic career thus far. What do you want to do next? What do you. What do you think the next 5, 10 years of Snooki looks like?

B (55:44)

I don't know. I mean, I feel like I'm so busy in general, like, being a mom, so I want that to be first priority. I don't want to be too crazy, but, like, also, so hustling and working is, like, my second priority. So, I mean, obviously my stores. I would love to keep going with my stores and do crazy things with it and just still love it. And do you know what I love? But also, I have my wine, so hoping to get my wine in stores one day.

A (56:11)

You're a podcaster as well?

B (56:13)

Busy with my podcast.

A (56:14)

You and Joey have a podcast?

B (56:15)

Me and Joey have to get, like, more crazy with it. I just haven't had the time to, like, really sit down and do it. I know, because this Is, like, your main thing. Yes.

A (56:23)

This is, like. This is, like, my journey. You sure?

B (56:24)

Right? Yeah. So, like, we're really trying because we've had our podcast for, like, 10 freaking years now, so we've had this for so long.

A (56:31)

You have had your podcast for so long? Since before when Jackie and I first got signed to a network. The network that we were at was called Audio Boom, and you guys were the biggest show on the network. And we were, like, so excited that we were at the same network as you guys, and we're like, oh, my God. Podcast here. So you've really been ahead of the curve for quite some time.

B (56:47)

Yeah, we just. We haven't really been doing the new thing, and that's like, you know, video. Video and, like, having a studio and guests. So I think once filming dies down a little bit, I'll have time to do that with Joey because we love our podcast.

A (57:00)

It's so fun. You guys have so many good adventures.

B (57:02)

Come on.

A (57:03)

A pleasure anytime.

B (57:04)

Yeah.

A (57:05)

Let me ask you a question. You did a lot of press in your. In your career, and especially at the peak of the show, you were doing a lot of interviews. I believe you were on Wendy Williams.

B (57:13)

Yes.

A (57:14)

Am I remembering correctly that there was an interview? Did you ever get.

A (57:19)

Like, people being judgmental, not wanting to have you on, like, bad vibes?

B (57:23)

Well, the View. Every single time. But, I mean, are we surprised with them?

A (57:27)

Did you do the View by yourself?

B (57:29)

No, I always think I did it with the roomies.

A (57:32)

Why would. Literally, why would anybody put you on that show? Like, that's not the place for you.

B (57:35)

I don't know. But we went on there a lot of times, and it wasn't. And Joy just hated us. Remember, she, like, cornered me in the bathroom. Yeah. And she was just nasty. So, yeah, I mean, I guess it was good exposure to, like, do a controversial show.

A (57:51)

Right? I mean, what would they ask you?

B (57:53)

Like, like, just, like, do you really drink that much? And, you know, just, like, annoying things. It's like, it's not that serious.

A (58:00)

Right.

B (58:01)

Like, we're not. We're not bad people.

A (58:03)

Let me ask you another question. So much of my.

A (58:06)

Like, worldview of you and your friends is from Mike's book. At any point in the house, did you have any idea that he was dealing with such a bad addiction?

B (58:15)

No.

A (58:16)

When did you find out everything that.

B (58:17)

Mike wrote in the book? We had no idea.

A (58:19)

Oh, you're kidding.

B (58:19)

We had no idea. Idea. So we knew, like, he was on things because he would act insane, like.

A (58:25)

Not normal when he grabbed his head into the wall in Florence.

B (58:28)

Yeah, but, like, just other things that, like, they don't show off camera. And we're just like, why are you acting like that? And we knew he wasn't drinking, so we knew it was something, but. Yeah, we had no idea that he was, like, hiding things in his shoes and, like, doing all the things. So he was drinking to.

A (58:43)

He was taking, like, 60 pills in one day, like, just to get.

B (58:46)

We had no freaking idea. You had no idea. And obviously production didn't know because every time we would film, they went through every crevice of our suitc to make sure we weren't bringing in drugs or anything.

A (58:54)

Really?

B (58:55)

Yes. Every single time.

A (58:56)

Oh, that's interesting.

B (58:57)

So he was really hiding in there.

A (58:59)

Yeah. And so when did you find out that he had been struggling so badly?

B (59:05)

Well, I think. I think once we all had a falling out with him. We were just like, we don't know how to deal with this anymore. And we're not really getting along, so it's kind of just like a falling out.

A (59:14)

Got it.

B (59:15)

And then once we got back together and he was really working on himself, you know, we were there for him and we were proud of him. Him. And now he just celebrated 10 years.

A (59:22)

Insane. He is so inspirational. I recommend his book to everybody. Did you ever visit him in prison?

B (59:27)

Yes, we did.

A (59:28)

You did?

B (59:29)

We did. We did. Like twice. It was like a camp. Right.

A (59:33)

It was like a financial crime.

B (59:34)

Real prison.

A (59:35)

Right.

B (59:36)

Like, scary. It was just like he was at, like, a day camp.

A (59:40)

Yeah.

B (59:40)

And they had activities and they were doing, like, cooking classes. Yeah. They were doing, like, fun things, because I think it wasn't like.

A (59:46)

Yeah, he did, like, the white collar crime. Yeah. Right.

B (59:49)

Yeah.

A (59:50)

So, okay, so that's a great question, because I always think about people who rise to fame really quickly end up in financial trouble because of their taxes. Was that also your dad making sure that you were, like, 100, kept up with the IRS?

B (60:01)

Yeah, because I had no idea about taxes or anything.

A (60:04)

Especially when you were 21 years old.

B (60:05)

I'm like, how do I file that? I didn't even know how to write a check. Wow. Yeah, because I just never had money like that, so my dad really helped me and my mom. Both my parents. Parents. So, yeah, my dad really helped with the taxes, and he still does. Did you file?

A (60:19)

Where do your parents live?

B (60:20)

Marlboro still.

A (60:21)

Oh, that's so nice.

B (60:22)

They still live upstate.

A (60:23)

How often do you see them?

B (60:24)

Not often. Which sucks.

A (60:26)

That does.

B (60:27)

But, like, they're both retired now, so they're able to come whenever, and it's only, like, an hour and a half drive, so it's not terrible. But, yeah, I'm hoping one day they move to Jersey. Yeah. I put them in a nursing home, like, right here by me so I can see them all the time.

A (60:38)

What do people in your hometown make of you? You are. You. You are the most famous person from Marlboro, I assume.

B (60:44)

Am I?

A (60:45)

Definitely.

B (60:46)

Well, we do have. So my best friend. One of my best friends married Wade Davis. He's a famous professional baseball player. He lives in Marlboro now.

A (60:56)

Oh.

B (60:56)

So.

A (60:56)

So you. Maybe you might have a couple. Yeah, right.

B (60:59)

Yeah. But no, all. Everybody that I graduated with grew up with, like, I still talk. All my best friends from high school are still my best friends to this day. Love that. That. So, yeah, I'm still very homey, and I. I'm not, like, ugh, I'm too good for all these people. Right. Like, I still go home and I see everyone, and I'm still Nicole to them, which is nice.

A (61:17)

I literally forget that your name is Nicole.

B (61:19)

Everyone does. I know.

A (61:20)

I do love that you got famous with a nickname. Some people, like, I think would hate it. Like, they want to be known by their real name.

B (61:25)

Yeah. I mean, it was getting annoying at some point because they were like, Snooki, and I'm like, you guys know my name's Nicole, right? Like, I was. I was getting annoyed that, like, no one knew my actual name name, but now it's just like, that's the brand. Yeah. And that's me. And Snooki is my brand name. And, like, your character sometimes. But, like, I like the fact that, like, Nicole is, like, the mommy me. So I have, like, different personalities.

A (61:48)

No. That's really cute.

B (61:49)

Yeah.

A (61:49)

Okay. Like, can I just tell you, this has been a dream. Your podcast, it's happening. What happened? What day do you drop episodes?

B (61:56)

Every Friday.

A (61:57)

Every Friday.

B (61:58)

And then I do one with Gina called the Mean Ball Pod, which is new.

A (62:02)

I'm obsessed with your friendship with Tina.

B (62:04)

Yeah. So we just talk about mommy stuff, and, you know, that's really. Weekends and stuff like that. So that is every Jers day. Every Thursday. Yeah. And you drop Thursday.

A (62:12)

We drop Monday to Friday.

B (62:14)

Okay.

A (62:14)

Five times a week.

B (62:15)

Got it.

A (62:15)

So this episode will be up shortly.

B (62:17)

Oh, you're busy.

A (62:18)

Booked and busy.

B (62:18)

Booked and busy.

A (62:19)

Thank you so much for coming.

B (62:20)

Thank you for coming.

A (62:21)

Of course, you guys, if you find yourself. So where are your stores? Madison, New Jersey.

B (62:25)

Seaside, High Court, Jersey. We have Huntington, New York, and then Nashville, will.

A (62:30)

If you find yourself in any of those towns, I highly recommend a trip to the Snooki shop.

B (62:34)

Yes.

A (62:35)

Bursting with your personality. Like you are ever. Obviously you sell like the merch and Jersey shore stuff, but also just really cute clothes. Your shirt is from the Sticky store.

B (62:43)

Yes. It's very Selena vibes.

A (62:45)

Yes.

B (62:45)

But yeah, I buy everything that you see in store. Everything. So you're basically shopping my closet.

A (62:49)

Right? So very much your style. Thank you guys so much for listening to the Toast and Monday morning show where we deal with the fastest stories and each and every Monday through Friday on YouTube. So if you're watching us on YouTube, please feel free to subscribe and give this video a up. Thumbs. Thumbs up. We are also available as podcast anywhere Podcast can be found, set Spotify Tune stitcher, public radio, IO, cast box, all the places. Wherever you listen to podcast, find us Toast Leave a five star review about a beautiful setting and wickedly talented. We are and we will see you tomorrow for our final episode of the year. You were my last.

B (63:11)

Are you fucking kidding? I know. What was that? I know.

A (63:15)

Bye everyone.

B (63:15)

Oh my God.

A (63:22)

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