Podcast Summary: Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge

Episode: Let’s Make It Nice for Christmas
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Hosts: Teddi Mellencamp & Tamra Judge
Special Guest: Dolores

Episode Overview

This special Christmas episode has Teddi, Tamra, and their guest Dolores diving into their holiday traditions, gift-giving dilemmas, family planning, nostalgic stories, and of course, their signature Real Housewives commentary—all with plenty of laughs and festive spirit. The episode includes candid revelations about family, relationships, and the chaos of the holiday season, and caps off with a playful “Naughty or Nice” Housewives-themed game.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Festive Gear and Setting the Mood

• Dolores goes all out for the Christmas vibe while Teddi recovers from the flu and admits to wearing black (“You are in black. You're like the opposite of Christmas.” – Dolores, 03:59).
  • “Well, it's because I have the flu. I woke up…Lagging. And I don't have time for…Hold on one second. I'm gonna fix this.” – Teddi, 03:59
• Despite feeling unwell, Teddi gets into the festive mood by wearing a holiday accessory impulsively bought by her partner Paul.

Holiday Prep, Mental Health, and Gender Roles

• Teddi’s holiday prep has been hampered by illness, but Dolores shares her own struggles staying active and healthy after filming wrapped.
  • “It's all in your head. Just changing that mindset.” – Dolores, 05:54
• Lighthearted lament of traditional holiday gender roles as the women do the heavy lifting with holiday prep while the men 'just show up.'
  • “I run circles around him, and then he redoes something if I do it, which drives me nuts.” – Teddi, 06:29
  • “I do the shopping, I wrap the presents, I put up the Christmas tree. I make Christmas Eve and dinner. ...What does he do? He shows up.” – Dolores, 07:28

Gift Giving and Family Dynamics

• Gift exchanges with partners are low-key for both Teddi and Dolores, but stocking stuffers can get unexpectedly pricey.
  • “The stockings are small, so that means small gifts are always more expensive.” – Paul, via Dolores, 07:06
• Dolores reiterates her wish for her fiancé Paul to take on the labor:
  • “So I said, no, you're doing this all by yourself.” – Dolores, 07:43
• Jewelry and engagement customs are touched on, including an anecdote about the rules of keeping rings after a breakup if they’re given on holidays or birthdays (08:21).

Holiday Traditions and Hosting

• Dolores hosts a massive Christmas Eve for 50–60 people, complete with gifts and a creative grab bag/giveaway game for all ages (15:11–16:52).
  • “If you have 50 people coming over and you have to buy gifts for everybody, have you ever thought about just like picking names?” – Tamra, 15:32
  • “We do that for the older kids, but I still buy for everyone.” – Dolores, 15:39
• Dolores gives away unused Amazon purchases or gift cards in her holiday grab bag, which has become a family favorite.

Family, Food, and Holiday Logistics

• Teddi and Dolores share plans for home-cooked, Italian-inspired Christmas dinners and reflect on family traditions in blended households.
  • Dolores describes how, as a divorced mom, she worked to make her house a true holiday home for her kids (17:11–17:26).

Holiday Gifts and Relationship Laughs

• Dolores considers giving personalized canvas prints as gifts but shares a funny story about her daughter Sophia’s response:
  • “Mom, we've been dating six months. You don't give him a life size picture of the two of us.” – Sophia (via Dolores, 18:53)

Safety, Parenting, and Overprotectiveness

• Dolores discusses elaborate plans and concerns about her kids driving to visit during the holidays, revealing classic parent worry:
  • “I'm going to drive down the mountain, pick them up and then drive back up the mountain.” – Dolores, 20:24
  • “I don't drive two hours for nobody.” – Teddi, 20:48
• Teddi suggests Uber, but Dolores is skeptical about letting her kids travel the treacherous mountain roads with strangers (21:09).

Peace, Social Media, and Feel-Good Content

• They note a shared obsession with the monks walking for peace, a story followed by both on social media—Dolores updates that one monk suffered an accident:
  • “The one monk lost his leg. Some idiot hit them when they started.” – Teddi, 22:14
  • Dolores recommends following “Walking for Peace” for hope and good vibes despite the sad turn to the story.

Engagement Talk and Wedding Plans

• Dolores is celebrating her first Christmas as a fiancée and contemplates wedding plans for the coming year:
  • “I'd like to get married...something small and have the party after Frankie gets married. Or New Year's Eve of next year.” – Dolores, 23:13
  • Paul wants an engagement dinner with Dolores’ family since none of her kids were present for the proposal (23:33).

Designer Wishlist and Holiday Movies

• Dolores admits to a love for designer bags and wishes for a specific brown suede Chanel for Christmas (24:02).
  • “I'm not a traditional Chanel bag...It's just not me. Edgier. I'm a little edgier than that.” – Dolores, 24:14
• Recent Christmas movie watches: Teddi enjoyed “Scrooged” and “Home Alone 2” to get in the spirit (25:28).

Naughty or Nice Housewives Game [30:39]

A quick-fire game of “Naughty or Nice” puts a Housewives spin on holiday behavior:

• Starting drama at a group dinner:
  • “Of course it's nice... for someone else to do it because it makes the dinner so much better.” – Teddi, 30:56
  • Both agree it’s “naughty, but I’m here for it.”
• Re-gifting Housewife products:
  • Both hesitate—too risky, fear of giving it back to the wrong person (31:08).
• Best/worst gift givers on cast:
  • “Heather gives nice gifts, and Shanna's actually a pretty good gift giver.” – Dolores, 31:57
  • Teddi: “Teresa gives me really nice gifts. Last year she bought me a Louis Vuitton scarf.” (32:18)
  • Neither admits to having received a truly bad gift, though Dolores shares a story of eccentric in-laws' gifts.
• Walking out of reunions:
  • “Never walk out... Naughty. That's the kiss of death for you.” – Both, 33:03
• Stirring the pot as peacemaker:
  • “That is so bad. That's naughty. That's duplicitous. That's sneaky.” – Teddi, 33:28
  • Dolores jabs Heather Gay as an example.
• Inviting someone just to confront them:
  • “Oh, that's Housewife. That's House 101.” – Both, 33:54
• Laughing when someone else is getting yelled at:
  • “Oh, and I am so guilty of that. There is nothing better.” – Teddi, 34:02
• Bringing a 'friend of' for backup:
  • Both see it as standard Housewives practice.
• Who gets coal this year?
  • “Does it startle Wendy [Osefo]? ... I'm gonna call from Santa.” – Teddi, 34:51
  • Dolores: “I'm gonna go with that one as well.” (34:58)

Memorable Quotes

• “I do everything. I do the shopping, I wrap the presents, I put up the Christmas tree. I make Christmas Eve and dinner. You know, all that. What does he do? He shows up.” — Dolores, 07:28
• “I’m still obsessed with the monks.” — Teddi, 21:51
• “I never trust my memory for re-gifting, what if I give it back to the person?” — Teddi, 31:16
• “That is so bad. That's naughty. That's duplicitous. That's sneaky.” — Teddi (re: playing peacemaker while stirring the pot), 33:28
• “Laughing when somebody else is getting yelled at—guilty.” — Both, 34:02

Notable Timestamps

• 03:45 – Teddi and Dolores vibe-check each other's holiday festivity
• 05:20 – Dolores on holiday mentality and getting back to the gym
• 07:28 – Gender role gripes and holiday prep division
• 15:11–17:03 – Dolores describes elaborate holiday hosting and family traditions
• 18:53 – Canvas print gift story with her daughter Sophia
• 21:46 – Safety and travel worries for holiday family visits
• 23:13–23:29 – Dolores’ engagement and wedding plans
• 24:02 – Designer bag holiday wishlist talk
• 25:28 – Christmas movie recap
• 30:39–35:07 – Naughty or Nice Housewives game

Tone & Language

The episode is conversational, full of playful teasing, candid admissions, and a touch of Housewives drama. Both hosts are relatable and irreverent, poking fun at themselves, their significant others, and Housewives stereotypes.

Takeaway

A festive, laugh-filled check-in with Teddi, Tamra, and Dolores, blending holiday chaos, Housewives insight, and family warmth—with a little tongue-in-cheek shade and Housewives humor to keep things lively. Perfect for fans seeking both relatable holiday tales and signature Real Housewives behind-the-scenes banter.