The Twot Seat: LEVA BONAPARTE (Southern Hospitality)

Summary

Podcast Summary – "The Twot Seat: LEVA BONAPARTE (Southern Hospitality)"

Podcast: Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Date: March 5, 2026
Special Guest: Leva Bonaparte (Southern Hospitality, Southern Charm)
Guest Host: Dolores Catania

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Episode Overview

This episode features restaurateur and Bravo reality TV personality Leva Bonaparte. Teddi Mellencamp and guest host Dolores Catania chat candidly with Leva about her transition from "Southern Charm" to "Southern Hospitality," life behind the scenes, navigating reality television, and the evolving dynamics between cast members. The conversation dives into generational shifts, maintaining authenticity, the challenges of reality stardom, and developing a new kind of ensemble-driven show.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Leva’s Transition Away from "Southern Charm"

• Leva reflects on leaving "Southern Charm":
  • She still keeps in touch with many cast members and emphasizes the authenticity of those relationships (06:13–09:16).
  • Her decision to focus on mental health and business:

    “Doing two shows, having a small kid and all these businesses was like a mental health first. It was too much for me. I tried to ride for as long as I could…”
    – Leva Bonaparte [06:56]

Reality TV Friendships – Authenticity and Boundaries

• On maintaining real friendships post-show:

  • Leva mentions staying connected with some, but drifting from others based on how real the relationships were in the first place (08:54–09:16).
  • Dolores and Teddi agree that authentic friendships are rare and valuable in reality TV circles.

• About Shep and Craig:

  “Shep might be like very, very authentic on and off camera...he makes his mistakes on camera, he makes them off camera. He’s same, same, same thing.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [09:31]
  “Craig is...genuinely always trying to be...but he’ll get triggered, you know what I mean? Like, as we all do.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [09:46]

The Generational Divide & Dynamics Amongst Cast

• Younger Cast’s Drama:

  • Leva observes that the younger cast members take things much more seriously and are fueled by drama, which often continues even after the cameras are off (14:34–16:23).
  • Example of young cast priorities: fighting over a cardboard cutout, which seems trivial to the older hosts (15:34).

• Generational wealth and Charleston “Nepo babies”:

  “It’s a very, like, nepo baby city...people buy a townhouse for their kid to go to College of Charleston and then they stay in the townhouse.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [19:40–20:04]

• Parental influence and privilege:

  • Discussion around how many cast members still benefit from parental support and delayed adult responsibilities (18:43–20:45).

Comparing "Southern Hospitality" to Other Bravo Shows

• Southern Hospitality vs Vanderpump Rules:

  "It was almost like the love child of, like, a Below Deck and Vanderpump...it’s chaos, it’s showtime, like there’s a hundred people out the door...And as for the kids...they are just entrepreneurial, so they’re not trying to be actors or comedians or like, it’s not L.A."
  – Leva Bonaparte [17:03]

• Life and luxury for young cast:

  • The unique bubble where part-time work brings a six-figure lifestyle for some, compared to the hustle and struggle shown on Vanderpump (18:43–19:25).

Family & Upbringing

• Leva’s own upbringing vs. her cast:

  “Immigrant parents are always going to be like, no, you can’t do this, you can’t do that for no reason...He would buy an air conditioned unit for a school in another country...and be like, that’s what you get for Christmas.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [20:45]

  • She credits her financial caution and entrepreneurial spirit to her parents’ influence, though she admits wishing she’d had more carefree fun when younger (21:00–22:28).

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Inside Season Four & Cast Relationships

Cast Drama and Growth

• Pre-season drama:

  • Leva describes the challenge of younger cast mates airing dirty laundry post-reunion or in other media spaces, and how it blurs the “fourth wall.”

    “I’m so tired. I’m so tired.”
    – Leva Bonaparte [15:16]

• Bradley and Emmy situation:

  • Discussion about Bradley’s protectiveness toward Emmy and whether his interference was brotherly or made for TV (22:29–24:42).

  • “Do I think he would have dug that deep if there wasn’t a camera? Maybe not as much, but I think he was very protective of her.”
    – Leva Bonaparte [23:14]

• Joe & Maddie’s love story:

  • The group reflects on Joe and Maddie’s relationship journey and stable family backgrounds, with both Dolores and Leva praising their wholesomeness (25:05–25:50).
  • Fun personal notes: Maddie’s mom is Leva’s son’s math tutor; both parents are “normal and hilarious.”

    “Those kids have a chance because they have normal moms.”
    – Dolores Catania [25:42]

Molly’s Role Post-Firing

• On continuing on-screen after being fired:
  • Leva takes a compassionate approach, allowing Molly to remain in the narrative since she’s a genuine part of the group (29:18–30:39).

  “I’m not really in the business of taking opportunities from young girls...let it all shake out. This is real, and it’s real life.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [30:01]

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The Realities of Reality TV

Mental Toll and Shifting Relationships

• On the challenge of being on reality TV:

  “Season one, like, fourth weekend, I was like, what it. You know, I don’t think people realize the mental load.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [31:00]

• Camera up/camera down dynamics:

  • Friendships often change when cameras are involved; loyalty might falter in favor of storyline (“assignment”) priorities (31:29–32:23).

• Setting boundaries and protecting peace:

  “I go to bed, you know, I feel good about myself when I go to bed and that’s it. That’s how I make my decision.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [31:54]

Conflict Resolution & Directness

• Having (and resolving) difficult conversations:

  • All three women agree that handling things directly and honestly is key and rare in reality TV world (33:32–35:19).

  • “You’re not talking shit behind my back. I’ll tell you exactly, to your face, exactly what I thought...And I think that I respect—I’m friends with women like that because I always know where I stand.”
    – Leva Bonaparte [34:24]

• Letting others in on the conflict:

  • There’s a distinct difference between handling an issue within the friendship and letting others run with the narrative (35:22).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Unhealed men make great TV. Like, I mean, let’s keep it real.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [07:45]
• “You and I would never argue over, like, a cardboard cutout of ourselves, but in your 20s, that’s a beef.”
  – Leva Bonaparte [15:34]
• “We grew up, like, just not liking each other because we’re so different.”
  – Leva Bonaparte on her sisters [32:37]
• “I wasn’t like, let’s get, you know, let’s… keep her around. She’s in the friend group. Let’s… let it all shake out. This is real, and it’s real life.”
  – Leva Bonaparte on Molly post-firing [30:01]

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Important Timestamps

• Leva’s reflections on leaving Southern Charm: 06:13–09:16
• On the differences between generations/cast privilege: 17:03–20:45
• Details on Emmy, Will, and Bradley drama: 22:29–24:42
• Joe & Maddie’s story and family bonds: 25:05–25:50
• Molly’s post-firing presence on the show: 29:18–30:39
• Honest talk about the price of reality stardom: 31:00–32:23
• Conflict and friendship philosophy: 33:32–35:19
• Final thoughts & season four preview: 36:21–37:04

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Closing

Leva shares gratitude for the show having found its own, authentic voice and audience apart from the "Vanderpump" comparisons. She hints that season four will be the show’s best, filled with both heartfelt and dramatic moments. The conversation leaves the listener with a deeper appreciation of both the business and personal sides of reality TV, and Leva's commitment to “keeping it real,” both on- and off-screen.

Transcript

[Leva Bonaparte]

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[Teddi Mellencamp]

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[Leva Bonaparte]

I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him.

[Leva Bonaparte]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Stephanie Young]

That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one night stand would end in a courtroom.

[Leva Bonaparte]

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The Dating Contract Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Stephanie Young]

I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Two T's in a Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Hi guys. Welcome to another episode of two T's in a Pod with myself, Teddy Mellencamp and special guest host Dolores Catano. I'm so glad to be back. Today we're going to be interviewing Leva Bonaparte. And she is an American restaurateur and television personality. She is known as a main cast member on Bravo reality series Southern Charm. But she has a spin off Southern hospitality. And also, before we get started, I just need to do one little thank you to the hospital that helped me so much the last couple days or a couple weeks. I have to say thank you. Thank you, thank you to Tarzana Hospital. Not only did they help cure me of this disaster that just came up, they're also the ones that discovered when I had all my tumors. They're the ones that discovered my tumors.

[Dolores Catano]

Really?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes.

[Dolores Catano]

They're amazing. What is the name? How do you say it?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

It's called Tarzana Hospital.

[Dolores Catano]

Tarzana Hospital. That's easy to remember. Think of Tarzan. Because God forbid I'm ever in that area. That's where I'm going if I need anything.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. Because I called Cedars and it was a six and a half hour wait.

[Dolores Catano]

Wow.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

That's terrible. Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And then I called back and it was an eight and a half hour wait. And, like, I had already gone to the urgent care and urgent care was like, no, no, we need you immediately to be in the hospital.

[Dolores Catano]

Well, you had lesions all over, right? Yeah. That's so scary. Were they painful?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah, they were. They started off painful and now they're just itchy.

[Dolores Catano]

Like almost like shingles.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like a shingles kind of. But it, like burned outwards. So it was like. Because I was allergic to the medication and I kept, you know, I took it for two weeks. I didn't know. My body, like, just wasn't, you know, it wasn't getting better and it just kept getting worse and then. But so I ended up taking it for a long time, not knowing that it was making me so sick.

[Dolores Catano]

Ah, Teddy. Yeah. I'm sorry.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

It's okay. But I just wanted to say thank you to them and I appreciate you for filling in as always, because that.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Oh, no, of course.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Then it, like, takes away my worries.

[Dolores Catano]

I get to see you and you live too far from me, which I don't like.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I know. It's bananas.

[Dolores Catano]

I know. And I don't get to come that way anymore. But when I do, I'm coming over.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Okay, Perfect.

[Dolores Catano]

Okay, that's. That's a deal.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

That's a deal. Should we bring love on?

[Dolores Catano]

Let's bring love on. I can't wait to meet her. She's so pretty, first off.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Love it. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Thanks for having me.

[Dolores Catano]

So excited to have you.

[Leva Bonaparte]

You both look so beautiful on this camera, I'm like. I feel like I'm a gray or I'm like, about to CEO.

[Dolores Catano]

We were talking about that you're a hot.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

We're like, reporting live from ktl.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I look like I'm gonna tell you guys some random news in here.

[Dolores Catano]

Tell me the weather, because for the first time in New Jersey in a month. So we're doing good. It's a good day to be alive because otherwise LA is nice.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I like this weather. Charleston. Charleston's been cold this year. I don't know. I think it's global warming, but I feel like it's global cold day.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, God.

[Dolores Catano]

We don't like the cold.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah, it's like what's happening. Maybe it's extremes, but it's. It's cold.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Well, I'm from Hilton Head, so I grew up close to Charleston. We miss you on Southern Charm.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Oh, that's very sweet. I don't miss Southern Charm. You don't miss me on Southern Charm? No, I see all. All them, all the time. And I'm always, like, on a thread between three here and three there that are upset.

[Dolores Catano]

Oh, that's nice that you're still a part of it because, you know, sometimes. And I've noticed that in my world, I don't know Teddy about you, but when people get off the show, sometimes they separate for their reasons or for the other people's reasons that they. They kind of don't mesh anymore.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

And I think that happens typically when there's a, like a. A sour kind of parting. Like you kind of. You parted gracefully on your terms.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yes, yes. Listen, I know that I. I played a certain role for a certain amount of time, but also, doing two shows, having a small kid and all these businesses was like a mental health first. It was too much for me. I tried to ride for as long as I could, but if you guys notice, like, season by season, I'm starting, like, a little bit. Check out also. I'm 46 and like, yes, I'm the same age as the boys, but I'm like 20 years young. Older than the girls. You know what I mean? I'm a lot older than the girls.

[Dolores Catano]

You're 20 years older mentally than the boys.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Mentally, yes. But that's not shade.

[Dolores Catano]

I love the boys.

[Leva Bonaparte]

No, the boys are great tv at the end of the day.

[Dolores Catano]

They are. They're cute. They're. They're just as good TV as the girls. They're like, so much a big part of it.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah, yeah. Unhealed men make great tv. Like I mean, let's keep it real. Great tv. I think all of them are good hearted dudes at the end of the day. People they want about them and I've been mad at them at times, but I think that they're all good guys. Like they're going to show. Need them to show up, that kind of thing.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Well, that's good. So it wasn't that hard to step away.

[Leva Bonaparte]

No, no, it wasn't that hard not to say that I don't still get texts from Sally and Vanita and like on the Girls and Rodrigo and Molly

[Dolores Catano]

and I love Rodrigo.

[Leva Bonaparte]

So Rod is like. Yeah, I've known Rod. We were running around Charleston for way too long. Like when Craig was like 12, you know, doing the thing for a long time. So I've known all of them for a really, really long time.

[Dolores Catano]

Which really I feel like is an amazing reflection. It reflects in the show if there's authentic relationships. Like Teddy, right when they bring some like Rando on, it just doesn't always mix 100%.

[Leva Bonaparte]

And I think, like Teddy, like Teddy, you're still close with Kyle and different people from the show. Like, I'm still close with certain people, but there's other people that like I was never really on day to day with. You know, like, we're friendly, we're at parties together, but I'm not like side texting you. And maybe I was, you know, there was times where I was a lot closer to Craig, which I'm not anymore, but I'm not.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Well, of course you don't want to claim it right now after last week.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Listen, and Austin and I like text. Chef's not really a texter. Chef's like, you know, I know, but

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Chef, like you call him and he's there the next minute.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Oh, yeah. But Shep is one of the, a very solid person if you need him, if you. I actually think Shep might be like very, very authentic on and off camera. Like he's really just who he is.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

The good, the bad and the ugly.

[Leva Bonaparte]

The gold retriever that you think he is, he makes his mistakes on camera. He makes them off camera. He's same, same, same thing. I think Craig is, is, is genuinely always trying to be. So I value that. Like, he's always trying to, to. To be what he's trying to be. But he'll get triggered, you know what I mean? Like, as we all do. As we all do. Like, I'm trying to be the best mom, but then I'm like, listen, you little. Like it's like we're all the person we're trying to be, you know?

[Dolores Catano]

No, it's okay, Lea. I. My kids are older than all of your kids. Okay. My Gabby's 30 and Frankie's 27.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

And I will tell you, that's how I raised my kids.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

They can handle the world. They can handle shit that gets thrown at them. They're not falling apart on a dime. Not that you have to be over. Like, we all go to bed at night sometimes. Very guilty.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

Think of the time as a friend,

[Leva Bonaparte]

as a wife, you're trying to sort of like keep your cool, but. And you want to be this certain person and you're still triggered and that takes a lot of like inner work, you know what I mean? So that's sort of what I mean by that. And I think that he's also the youngest of the boys, so I think he's can worry about what people think about him, you know, and he's been through a lot on tv. So.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Do you watch.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I see on Instagram, like I see pieces. I do, I do still watch a bit. I love them. I write like, I, I'm hopeful for their show, know.

[Dolores Catano]

But I love that you're on already. Season four.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I know. I couldn't. I mean, I literally was thinking about this the other day and I was like, I can't believe we're here. I can't believe that four years and four seasons flew by.

[Podcast Advertiser]

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[Leva Bonaparte]

in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

[Leva Bonaparte]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Stephanie Young]

But what happened to Clayton? After the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one night stand and ended in a courtroom with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

[Leva Bonaparte]

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. Please search for it. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Stephanie Young]

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped this season, an epic battle of he said, she said and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the ratchet.

[Stephanie Young]

Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Next Monday, our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards are happening live at south by Southwest. This is the biggest night in podcasting. We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. And the winner is. Creativity, knowledge and passion will all be on full display. Thank you so much, iheartradio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome. Watch live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific [e-mail] or the Veeps app. Aigo Woda is your host for the 2026 I Heart podcast Awards live at south by Southwest.

[Dolores Catano]

Hello? Is anybody there?

[Leva Bonaparte]

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[Dolores Catano]

I think and hope that's a good thing.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Get to know Aygo, follow Thanks dad with Ego Wodom and start listening on the free iHeartRadio app. Today.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

You had a little drama leading into the season, right? But I think one of your cast members went on the vial files and talked a little bit of.

[Dolores Catano]

On you.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah, on everybody.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Listen, they're young. They're supposed to talk a little. They get to make all the mistakes. You know what I mean? But yeah, I mean, almost like, you know, you guys know fourth wall. Like, it comes in kind of fourth wall, which I think we've never like, done in our show. There's a little bit of like outside post reunion, all like, you know, unlike most shows, you know, like, I don't know how Housewives works, but charm sometimes, like, some of us are apart and then we see each other again, right? Whereas, like this show, they're together all the time. So, like, cameras down, there's just still drama. And sometimes I'll be like, yo, there's like no cameras up, man.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Let it go.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Like, I don't want to get this text at 3, I'm, let it go. Or like, this was six months ago. Like, tell someone who cares. I'm so tired. I'm so tired.

[Dolores Catano]

Well, to them, it's a big deal. And when you're younger, things are a big deal than they are when they're in your 40s. When you're in your 20s and your 30s and you know what you think is going to kill you, you have to realize it doesn't. And then, like, life goes on and they don't bother you anymore. You're like, I survived this. Who gives a shit?

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yes. Yes. Like, you and I would never argue over, like, a cardboard cutout of ourselves, but in your 20s, that's a beef. You know what I mean? I wouldn't be like, you ignored the cardboard cut out of me or you knocked it over, you know, oh, gosh.

[Dolores Catano]

Know.

[Leva Bonaparte]

But back, you know, when you're.

[Dolores Catano]

What I would do to a cardboard cutout.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I don't want to see a cardboard

[Dolores Catano]

cut out of me 1,000%. I would. I would. I would damage it myself. First of all, I would make believe it wasn't there. And then I throw it over my balcony so that nobody else would see it. Because, yeah, like, the big deals of the things, the big deals of it

[Teddi Mellencamp]

all

[Dolores Catano]

of it all.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Like, you and I could have. I could offer you some Cheetos at your house. At my home, and you'd be like, young Cheetos. Whereas, like, these kids, it's like, oh, are you assuming. Are you trying to say that I'm cheating on my spouse because you offered me Cheetos? Like, everything is so big for these.

[Dolores Catano]

They would not last one second in my house.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

In our pantries.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. So they just, like, enter the room and you have to pass blockers, like, all the trainers. Before you enter my pantry. Here's a beta blocker.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

For those who haven't seen your show. What would you say is the biggest difference between, like, a Vanderpump rules and a Southern hospitality?

[Leva Bonaparte]

So I definitely would say Vanderpump kind of takes place in, like, a restaurant. And I always say in the club business, it's like you are talking hundreds of people lines. Like, people drinking. It's kind of like I. I said from the beginning, it was almost like the love child of, like, a below deck and Vanderpump, because they're not like rolling silverware. Like, it's chaos. It's showtime. Like, there's a hundred people out the door. There's people upset about their bottle service or happy about it or like, the egos, like, you know, it's. It's a very, very, like, high energy and chaotic space. And. And also it's going to bring out the worst because you're getting slammed and there's a hundred people and this guy's upset because he got the table and his sign came out wrong or. You know what I mean? Like, so it's just very different than restaurant. And as for the kids, I think that most of my kids are. Are just entrepreneurial, so they're not trying to be actors or comedians or like, it's not la. And in Charleston, hospitality is, like, a good business. So the funniest part about these kids is, like, they would work for three days and then they'd be like, in Tulum for three days. And then they. Three days, and then they were like, somewhere fabulous. It's such a little small amount of time because, you know, then you get older and you have mortgages and car payments and all these things. Yeah, it's like this little small window of time where there's no reality where you're making, like, six figures plus in tips and whatever and living, you know, in a. In a city that isn't that expensive to live in. You're. You're on your parents, like, car payment. Your parents still paying for your cell phone. So you're like on a yacht.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

All right.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Like, it makes no sense. I'm like, how they. On a yacht and I'm like, here. You know what I mean?

[Dolores Catano]

Because they're. And they can do it, and eventually they're not going to be able to do it if they want to make the next step to life. Like, I've been thinking about that. I'm like, I don't think I ever had it easy. I worked three jobs.

[Leva Bonaparte]

No. Right. Their generation is so different.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And.

[Leva Bonaparte]

And just like the stuff they've experienced. I'm like, I had to wait till I was 40 to get on a really nice boat. Like, so I would like, you know, to like things that I'm just like, wow, you can't even put the Dragon back in the box. But they have so much disposable income, so they kind of live this strange little, you know, in this little bubble.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like Nomad.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. Responsibility takes over. So it's a little different than Vanderpump. It seemed like they were, like, struggling for their apartments. And these kids live real good.

[Dolores Catano]

I mean, I noticed that. I think I see more family and parents involved here.

[Leva Bonaparte]

That too. It's a very, like, nepo baby city

[Dolores Catano]

that's What I'm saying, that's the South. Yeah, that's the South.

[Leva Bonaparte]

She's from Hilton Head. Yeah, she knows, you know,

[Dolores Catano]

Teddy.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah, yeah, she knows. So people buy a townhouse for their kid to go to College of Charleston and then they stay in the townhouse. It's like paid off and they're still on.

[Dolores Catano]

You know, I could not even imagine. But you know, eventually reality hits. You know, I watch all the shows now, love it because Teddy makes me. And I'm watching now go Nessa struggling as her parents are older. She's in her 40s, she's a single mom. And reality is hitting her. It eventually comes. She has to work for a mortgage. She's never had to pay a mortgage before. Well, how do you start then, now do you think? And I know I was raised a lot differently. Things weren't always easy growing up. I was raised in a strict Italian household. Italian American. You were also raised.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. You know, immigrant parents are always going to be like, no, you can't do this, you can't do that for no reason. Yeah, for no reason. Like, it's just ridiculous. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't, I definitely didn't grow up struggling by any means. But you know, I was just telling the girls today, I was like, you know, my dad and mom would like fly first class. They would put me, my sisters in coach and my dad would come back and like tease us and he would be like, just checking to see, you know, what goes on back here, you know what I mean? And like just constantly, you know, or if it was like Christmas, you know, he would buy an air conditioned unit for a school in another country or something. You and I mean like, and be like, that's what you get for Christmas. So he kept us really, really humble. And my dad's an entrepreneur, so he, we've always worked hard. Like, I was never the girl that I was really into. Like, I would buy a bag, it would be very specific. It would be like a, a Chanel that was, was 10 years. But when I made my own money, yeah, I was like very strategic. In the bag that I would buy was like limited edition, like very investor. And then after that, Lamar was like, what do you want for Christmas? I was like, land. Now I'm like, put all the verses together. Down payment on land. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I just have always been that girl, you know what I mean? I remember Lamar and I, he was like, man, like, you say you're not bougie, but that's like a level of bougie, but I'm like, just put money away. I want a little piece of land. So it's like, stuff like that. I've just. I was raised that way, so. Not that, I don't know, like, nice things. Not that I don't have nice things, but, yeah, I never did that stuff. I kind of wish I did a little bit, like, had a little bit more fun and more trips and vacations was. I wish I was a little more irresponsible. Maybe I'll be in my later years.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Emmy said that Bradley was.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yes, yes. That was a really strong statement. I. I call him Coach Carter because I always feel like he's so positive and sweet. I would definitely say Bradley's far from evil, but, you know, you disagree. You know, I disagree. I don't think he's evil. I definitely think she think that. I think because she's the one who brought. I mean, he's the one who sort of, like, questioned the cheating stuff. You know, the cheating with. With. And he's now fiance. Well, I think she was like, no, he's not cheating. And I think Bradley went and tried to dig up information or not dig up, but, like, asked, do you think

[Teddi Mellencamp]

he was doing it as being a good friend or do you think he was doing it to stir the pot?

[Leva Bonaparte]

I think it's a little bit of. A little bit of b. They're good friends. He was very like, big brother to her. But do I think he would have dug that deep if there wasn't a camera? Maybe not as much, but I think he was very protective of her. I think they all were. I was protective of her, too. I was like, if this is true, we really need it. You really need to put the brakes on this. You know what I mean? Because it all started with Will kind of speaking negatively about her in the business. He came in, he was drunk, he was dressed out, and he said some not nice things, which he apologized about. And that got everyone kind of in protective mode. Like, wait, you're gonna come in here and, like, talk bad about Emmy?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But don't they say sometimes a drunk. A drunk man's words is how they really feel?

[Leva Bonaparte]

I mean, they might have been in a bad season of their life. I don't know. He's a kid. I. I think older couples know not to speak their business out.

[Dolores Catano]

Well, sometimes they do also stage.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I'm like, if my. I mean, I don't know. I don't know that I would forgive my husband if he did something like that early on. So I think that's where that all stemmed from, because Bradley was very bigger brother, you know, and was protective and didn't think that that was.

[Dolores Catano]

No, I don't think. I don't think he's evil. I don't know. I don't think he likes. I don't think that he liked it.

[Leva Bonaparte]

And I don't know if it was Will who said that or Emmy was one of them on the podcast, but he's not evil. He's not at all evil. Did he maybe do more than, you know, was necessary, but he was in protective mode of. Of Emmy always.

[Dolores Catano]

Well, we don't also don't see what happens behind closed doors in relationships.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah, he cares about her, and he was very good friends with Will, so it really severed the entire relationship. These are people who are really, really close, you know?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Can we talk a little bit about Joe and Maddie?

[Dolores Catano]

Oh, I like Joe and Maddie because

[Teddi Mellencamp]

that was a long road. Like, that was a tough road to get there.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Right? I know, I know. They're so cute. Joe's been alone.

[Dolores Catano]

We really are. I, I. Joe is so cute. Maddie's so cute. I met the parents. The parents at Bravo. Yeah.

[Leva Bonaparte]

So it's funny. Maddie's mom tutors my son. I homeschool. She. She tutors him in math. And then Michelle has helped us, so I'm like, friends with the moms. So Michelle Miche is what I.

[Dolores Catano]

Very normal moms, daddy. I met them in person, like, so normal.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Just normal.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Normal and hilarious and. And be. And fun. They were at Bravo Con, like, gambling for the first time and stuff like that.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, I love that.

[Dolores Catano]

For the first time, like, when I met them, I. It made me realize, like, those kids have a chance because they have normal moms.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. Very wholesome. I want to say most of the cast is, like, really wholesome, nice parents that I'm friendly with. You know what I mean? So they do have, like, a good support system.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Maddie is a DJ now. Is that, like, some Bravo epidemic? I feel like everybody's a DJ now.

[Dolores Catano]

Maddie was a DJ before.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Maddie was a DJ through Covet. So it was actually funny because. Because we were in Republic before the show Teddy, and she was like, I kind of want to dj. And so Lamar is really into music, my husband, and he was like, get a table. And she was like, what do you mean, get a table? I was like, get a table. YouTube it. That's like, how, you know.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Like, learn the. You want to do it and do it. It's coded like, this was this conversation. She was like, get a table. You know, she was just triggered. He's like, I'll get you a table. Get a table. You're young, man. You know what I mean? Like, I'll get you a table. So then she started to DJ a little bit. She was nervous, and she did in this way. She's actually really good. She's actually really good. And I remember it was before all this came about, and Lamar was like, this little girl's good. Like, she's actually really, really good. And. And then Lamar was like, keep at it. Like, keep practicing, keep mixing, keep doing it. So. And she ended up getting like a used table from her neighbor. And she. She kept going and that this was all before the show. You know what I mean? So. And then, of course, the show helped launch her a ton more. But she's actually, like, really good. She's good.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

She's got.

[Dolores Catano]

How. Joe was excited. He showed up and then he was upset that her friend was late. He would get mad because he wanted everybody to support her. I really love them as a couple.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. One thing about Joel say is that he will ride for everybody. Like, he's got it. He's a good. He's a good.

[Dolores Catano]

My little Italian guy.

[Leva Bonaparte]

He is 100% just. I always call him, like the mayor of King street because he's so hospitable. I think Italians, like Persians are just innately hospitable. Like, it's just like you grew up in hospitable households. You just.

[Dolores Catano]

It just.

[Leva Bonaparte]

You came out the womb hospitable. You know what I mean? Like this. Have a drink. Have a cookie.

[Dolores Catano]

I think he's more Italian than his mother.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I know, it's weird. I'm like, were you even around Italians? Like, what's going on?

[Dolores Catano]

I mean, I don't understand. He looks. He is a Jersey Taddy. This kid is a Jersey Italian from Bloomfield or somebody from 1988 that I went to high school with with a slicked back hair. He comes up, he kisses me hello. He talks. How's your kids? How's Bright? I'm like, I mean, I look. I did I give birth to you?

[Leva Bonaparte]

He's so Italian. By, like, I don't even know by what.

[Dolores Catano]

I don't know, because I met his mom and then.

[Leva Bonaparte]

And I was like, you're Italian?

[Dolores Catano]

Yeah.

[Leva Bonaparte]

If you meet his mom, it makes no sense. But yeah, we'll call him Joey Bottles because, like, that's.

[Dolores Catano]

He's just Joey Bottles.

[Leva Bonaparte]

He is tailored like this.

[Dolores Catano]

And, you know I go crazy.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. So they love the jokes because our CEO is Joe Fiore, which is. Whose last name is Joe's maiden name. And Joe's jealous because he's like CEO Joe as the Italian name, but I grabbed your name. It's like, really funny because he has the same maiden name.

[Dolores Catano]

Joe did.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Joe's mom.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And then I have another question for you. Molly was fired, but we still see her on the show. How does that work?

[Leva Bonaparte]

Well, I think at the end of the day, the show is about the kids that work for me. But I mean, I kind of try to say, you know, fourth wall of it all. I'm not really in the business of taking opportunities from young girls. You know what I mean? The show is an opportunity, and I know that she was fired, but also she plays a role in the friend group, and it sort of just transpired so she's still around. And it's. It's messy. It's real messy, unfortunately. Just like, you know, getting fired, you would think on good terms, you know, would. Would they could part ways in with some normalcy, but that can never happen.

[Dolores Catano]

No, I. I love that about you. And that is so nice that you're considerate of that.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. Yeah. I wasn't like, let's get, you know, let's. Let's keep her around. She's in the front group. Let's. Let's let it all shake out. This is real, and it's real life. She still hangs out with them. I think what I really want to always make sure about our show, too, is just that it stays really real, and if people come in and out of the show, it's in a natural progression. You know what I mean? And like I said the same way Mia was fired. I'm really not in the business of taking an opportunity from a young girl. I think that, like, let her. Let her contribute in the ways that she can, and this project will take its own life as it. As it continues. You know, I mean, not here.

[Dolores Catano]

Yeah. Because usually in reality tv, it's all different everywhere. Right, Teddy? But, you know, it seems like you. You really have. Still have a heart, so you can have. Be successful and still have a heart in any business. But, like, so when you started reality tv, when did you realize it's really harder than people think it is?

[Leva Bonaparte]

Oh, my gosh. Season one, like, fourth weekend, I was like, what it. You know, I don't think people realize the mental load.

[Dolores Catano]

How draining cannot.

[Leva Bonaparte]

They don't realize, and then they also don't realize. Like, there are the people you film with, like, camera up and camera down kind of change. And that's jarring because you could be friends with them. And that was weird for me. It's not like I came into charm as, like, a person who didn't know. It was like, oh, oh, we're. Oh, this is. Oh, you know what I mean? Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Like, our friendship has now changed.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Oh, we're never friends, I guess. Or the friendship has changed. Or like, the assignment is more important than any loyalty or friendship we ever had. You know what I mean? And that's where I think reality tv, there becomes a separation. I think there's people who are able to keep a certain, like, line or per. Like, I keep a personal boundary where I always say, listen, there's a lot of people. I can drown people. I can drive. Oh, I'm sure I. I go to bed, you know, I feel good about myself when I go to bed. And that's it. That's how I make my decision. Like, you could just scream in my face. And, you know, there are times I. Lower level will appear. Don't get me wrong. I can get activated. You know, lower level that gets put away in therapy. But, like, she'll come out at times, you know, she'll forget she has tools. But generally, like, I'm not going to get that dirty because, like, it's just. It's not that deep for me. But I will. I am around and find out.

[Dolores Catano]

Yeah, but I mean, you grew up. I mean, culturally, how is it different? And how did that help you? Because a lot of people cannot hold their composure with things. And then, of course, you have sisters, right? You have three sisters.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Three sisters, yeah.

[Dolores Catano]

So you're used to fighting with women

[Leva Bonaparte]

now, but, yeah, my sisters, we were like, far apart. We were each one of us a six. Six years apart. My poor mom. So we grew up, like, just not liking each other because we're so different.

[Dolores Catano]

And that five years thing is rough.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. And then when we all kind of got into, like, 19, 20, when my youngest sister got to 19, it's like we all started to kind of get along, but. Yeah, but we still fight. Like, we have really different personalities. I'm the oldest, so of course I mom them and it annoys them. And of course they hide things from me because I'm mom. But that's the same thing the kids that work for me do. And I'm like, I know, I've lived this. Yeah, I see it. So there's a lot of that, like, call people out. You might have A heated moment. It's just like ducks. They flap their wings and then they're done. They come back and be like, listen, I was a little out of pocket,

[Dolores Catano]

but, like, no, love.

[Leva Bonaparte]

But also, I think you're being an asshole. You know what I mean? Like, but.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But that means you have to actually have resolution, which I think is really hard for a lot of people.

[Dolores Catano]

Hard for housewives.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Teddy, accountability, resolution, all. That's the tough one.

[Dolores Catano]

Now, love. I've had gotten calls from Teddy already saying, listen, I'm gonna have to bring this up, and I'm really sorry, but I'm just letting you know I'm gonna be talking about how your boyfriend on you on camera and how he thinks I'm gonna marry you. And I go, you deserve to do that. He was wrong. And I love Teddy so much. I think when it comes from the person that you. No, the. She's doing her job. She's not wrong. She wasn't trying to hurt me. She was talking about something that happened and she should have talked about it. And he was wrong, by the way. And. But not too many people look at it like that. Like, even on your show, you're a

[Leva Bonaparte]

direct person too, Dolores. Like, you have no problem. Both you and Teddy have no problem saying the stuff, talking about the stuff, moving on from the stuff, or like, hey, we didn't handle this. So, like, because your personalities are aligned, I think you also value the friendships where it's like, you're not talking shit behind my back. I'll tell you exactly, to your face, exactly what I thought. I think you're, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Or I don't want people to talk about it. Let's hash it out in this environment where, you know, it's a friend. Like, let's do this together because I'm still. I still love you, but we're not going to let other people have a narrative about it. You know what I mean? And I think that I respect. I'm friends with women like that because I always know where I stand. You know what I mean? So it's also, I think, a testament to your. To your characters that you're able to, like, handle stuff, talk about stuff, and then move on and then have each other's back, like in another room where you'd be like, yes, I can talk about this, but no, no, no, you can't.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Doesn't mean you can. Yeah, I already had this conversation.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I have a relationship with this person. You know what I mean? Like, it's kind of like that thing where they say, like, I can, like, kill my husband, but if the nurse doesn't save him, I'm gonna kill her. You know what I mean? Kind of do, like, no, you don't get to do that. You know, I can talk about him, but you. So kind of.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

How did you originally get on to Southern charm? I mean, I know you already had your businesses. You were already an entrepreneur.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah, it's a funny thing because originally Cam was my roommate, so that's how it's sort of like, I was there since season one, but just like, in little things where she wanted to film something with a friend, talk about, like, pregnancy, like, kind of things that were touchy for her. And then obviously, like, I knew everyone, so I'd be at parties and whatever, and I would see them all the time, so I was actually friends with them. So I was like, I would be in and out. But TV was never. Has never been like a bucket list thing for me.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Is there anything else you want to share before you head out?

[Leva Bonaparte]

I mean, I'm just, I'm excited for season four. I'm, I'm just so grateful that people allowed us, like, a little bit of time. I think at first it was like, oh, it's not Vanderpump. And I'm like, no, we're not Vanderpump. We're different. Like, it's a different show. Yeah, we're our own thing. And I'm just grateful that everyone gave it a chance. And I think it's just really authentic and fun. And this season, I, I, there's, like, moments that just give me, like, chill bumps, like, almost like hills coated, you know, like the old days. Like, the kids, the kids that work for me, like, don't even know what I mean when I say that. I'm like,

[Dolores Catano]

who cares about them?

[Leva Bonaparte]

We know what you mean. They're like, okay. But, yeah, I just, I'm. I think season four is going to be just even better than.

[Dolores Catano]

I'm so excited.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I'm excited for it.

[Dolores Catano]

And see my little Joey. Yeah, Joey.

[Leva Bonaparte]

Yeah. And we're gonna come up. We're gonna come up there. I want to do like a, like a Hamptons pop up or something. Like, I, I don't know.

[Dolores Catano]

You better let me know. I will.

[Leva Bonaparte]

I will.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Well, thank you so much. You're so fun. You're so sweet.

[Dolores Catano]

Thank you. You showed up so beautiful and so fun. And we got the fourth season. We're so happy. Cheers to many more. I don't see this going anywhere. I'm so excited you're going to be around a long time.

[Leva Bonaparte]

You're so sweet. I love you both. I send you all the love and good vibes to you and your loved ones.

[Dolores Catano]

Thank you.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Bye.

[Leva Bonaparte]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.