The Twot Seat: REZA FARAHAN (The Valley: Persian Style)

Summary

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

Episode: The Twot Seat: REZA FARAHAN (The Valley: Persian Style)
Release Date: January 21, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Two Ts In A Pod, Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge sit down with Reza Farahan—best known from Shahs of Sunset—to discuss his new show, The Valley: Persian Style, his journey in reality TV and beyond, his forthcoming memoir, and deeply personal matters of identity, relationships, and resilience after reality TV "cancellation." The conversation blends Bravo nostalgia with candid insight on the realities of life after the cameras stop rolling, the unique dynamics of The Valley cast, and Reza’s perspective on marriage, culture, and financial wisdom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reza’s Return After Shahs of Sunset Cancelation

• On being "resurrected" in reality TV:
  • Tamra: “You were resurrected. I love that. I love that.” (04:03)
  • Reza: “Yes. Resurrected from the grave.” (04:01)
• Pitching the Valley:
  • Reza: “I was running all over town, meeting with whatever executive I could get a meeting with... pitching a version of the Valley...” (04:12)
  • Initially spearheaded, but Alex Baskin (Bravo producer) eventually called Reza with the reboot idea while Reza was in London filming Worst Cooks in America (04:46).

2. Life After Being "Fired" from Reality TV

• Struggling with identity post-show:
  • Tamra and Teddi relate, describing "trauma bonding" over their simultaneous exits. (05:20)
  • Reza: “I would call it, like I was institutionalized. Like, I got out of jail... you re-acclimate to civilian life. It was crazy.” (05:49)
  • Discussion of therapy/group support ideas for fired reality stars—with playful suggestions like, “Andy fired me and I survived.” (07:26)

3. Community Among Bravo Alumni

• Support from Bravo community:
  • Reza: “So many people from the original Valley hit me up... They’ve been incredibly supportive, which is so lovely, as are most people on Bravo. ...It’s like a family.” (07:44)

4. Favorite Housewives and Cast Dynamics

• On favorites and relationships:
  • Reza: “Dolores is definitely in the top three. Chanel Ayan. I love Tamra. ...I love Angie. I love Lisa, all the Lisas, Barlow...” (09:15)
  • On Lisa Barlow: “The outfits, the everyday drip, drip, drip. Like I felt like a peasant. ...She was dripping every day looking gorgeous and snatched.” (09:59)

5. Candid Relationship Talk: Reza & Adam

• Love languages & marriage longevity:
  • Reza compares Persian/Mexican affection to his husband Adam’s military upbringing:
    • “My mom would pick me up from school and wouldn’t let me in the car until I gave her a hug and a kiss... my husband talks to his mom... like, ‘Hey.’ ...What is that?” (15:25)
  • On staying connected:
    • “Luckily we went to counseling together... she told us to do these check-ins, which we do religiously and they’re very helpful.” (15:25)
    • Check-ins are nightly: “It’s really quick... How are you? How are you feeling? What can I do for you tomorrow?” (17:43)
    • “It alleviates fights. It’s like a pressure relief valve.” (18:15)

6. The Valley: Cast Behaviors and Behind-the-Scenes

• Drama Highlights:
  • On Sky’s focus on image: “She wants to present a certain image, and she wanted the bartender there. ...This backyard is literally the size of a shoebox.” (20:03)
  • On Gigi lighting a joint: “We were outside. The kids were nowhere in sight. ...Sky took a couple hits of that joint. ...Now you’re gonna reprimand someone? Come on, girl.” (20:56)
• Cast relationships and potential divorces:
  • “She (Sky) hates him (Bomb Squad). … He is not going to be able to tolerate her much longer. ...She really talks down to him.” (23:04, 23:52)
  • On MJ’s marriage dissolving: “MJ … painted a picture for me and made him out to be something I did not see on the screen. ...When she opened up to me about what was really going on, I felt really sad that she was hoping the tide would turn and she didn’t want any of us to think negatively about him.” (24:34)

7. Candid Thoughts on Finances and Renting vs. Owning

• Reza expresses strong opinions about financial wisdom:
  • “You never rent. You always buy. You don’t charge things on your credit card. If you can’t afford to pay for something, you don’t charge it and pay interest because you end up paying double.” (34:15)
  • Frustration at friends spending $10,000-$15,000 per month on rent: “...sometimes I give advice that people don’t appreciate, but it comes from love.” (35:40)
  • “I own two houses. One of my houses pays me so much rent that the rent pays for me to live in my other house for free.” (35:04)

8. Reza’s Memoir: Memoirs of a Gay Shah

• On the book’s heart and history:
  • “It’s basically my story of how we ended up in America… We came to America on a vacation and then a revolution happened in our home country…” (30:56)
  • “I wanted to be the Shah... I grew up in this country. The monarchy was abolished and I manifested a frickin reality show.” (31:32)
  • “It’s just a book about where I came from and how I got to where I’m at and just stories about how my dad picked up and had to start all over and was able to provide a beautiful life for us in Beverly Hills.” (32:01)
  • On vulnerability: “When I went to do the audible version, I literally was cringing because I had forgotten how vulnerable and raw I was with everything.” (32:29)

9. Teasers for Upcoming Episodes of The Valley

• Reza teases drama:
  • “Next Thursday’s episode. Get your popcorn, call your girlfriend. It’s really about to go down.” (40:24)
  • “I might be [in the middle of it]... I don’t want to give anything away, but literally, the next [episodes] are so good, and I am, like, stirring that.” (40:49)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On post-reality TV silence:
  • Reza: “The silence was deafening. I still had the film on my recessed lights. And there was no production to be had.” (06:34)
• On Bravo relationships:
  • Reza: “It’s like a family… being back and being embraced by people that came after I was fired is a really good feeling.” (07:44)
• On reflecting on MJ’s marriage:
  • Reza: “She was trying to paint a rosier picture than was [true].” (25:23)
• On buying vs. renting:
  • Reza: “I tell Shannon, like, I was literally on the phone with her yesterday, Tamara, and I was like, girl, you need to buy some income property, because when this show is over, you need some tenants paying you rent.” (35:46)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction of Reza & Return to Reality TV: 03:30 – 05:20
• Struggling with Post-Show Identity: 05:20 – 07:18
• Bravo Community & Relationships: 07:44 – 09:59
• Relationship & Marriage Talk: 14:51 – 18:36
• The Valley Cast Drama: 20:03 – 24:13
• MJ’s Marriage & Personal Struggles: 24:14 – 27:10
• Financial Wisdom & Renting vs. Owning: 33:35 – 36:29
• About the Memoir: 30:56 – 32:52
• Season Drama Tease: 40:24 – 41:00

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Tone & Style

The episode is candid, humor-filled, and peppered with inside references and Bravo fandom. The trio’s camaraderie is evident, blending supportive friendship with classic reality TV shade. Reza is open, witty, and vulnerable; Tamra and Teddi are direct but encouraging, unafraid to commiserate or dig for Bravo dirt.

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Closing Remarks

Reza is grateful for the chance to return, reflect, and share his journey—both the highs of fame and the lows of starting over. His new memoir and ongoing show promise more drama, cultural perspective, and personal growth, all of which Reza is eager to share with both fans and Bravo alumni alike.

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Summary crafted for those who want all the notable Reza, Valley, and Bravo insights—no ads, no filler, just the reality served straight.

Transcript

[Reza Farahan]

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[Tamra Judge]

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[Reza Farahan]

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[Tamra Judge]

Two T's in a pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge. Hi, guys.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Welcome to another episode of the Twat Seat with myself, Teddy Mellencamp and Tamara Judge. And we have a very special guest on today. Who do we have?

[Tamra Judge]

Reza.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

We have Reza.

[Tamra Judge]

The original Reza.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, my gosh. Well, he also has a new book, Memoirs of a Gay Shot. It's available now for pre order, so make sure that you get that.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah. Reza. Reza. We have a lot to ask him.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I know we do.

[Tamra Judge]

Traders and his book and his new show. It's a lot busy man.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

So let's bring him in.

[Reza Farahan]

Hi. Hi, ladies.

[Tamra Judge]

Hi. Good morning. So early in the morning.

[Reza Farahan]

I'm so excited to finally be on the hit Pod two tv.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, my God.

[Reza Farahan]

I've been waiting.

[Tamra Judge]

Well, we're happy to have you. That's for sure.

[Reza Farahan]

I'm excited.

[Tamra Judge]

That is for sure. So how are you?

[Reza Farahan]

I'm doing really well. How are you guys?

[Tamra Judge]

Good. You?

[Reza Farahan]

Good.

[Tamra Judge]

You are booked and busy.

[Reza Farahan]

I'm so blessed. I'm trying to be like you guys.

[Tamra Judge]

Isn't it crazy how this world is.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes. Resurrected from the grave.

[Tamra Judge]

You were resurrected. I love that. I love that.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Did you think that you'd be on another show after Shaws was canceled?

[Reza Farahan]

I did, only because I was running all over town, meeting with whatever executive I could get a meeting with pitching. Pitching a version of the Valley. I was like, what if we take me go Nessa and mj and then we go with Persian Armenians and we do like. I was literally, like, running around doing the damn thing, trying to make it happen.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Now.

[Tamra Judge]

Now, did this happen because of you, or was this something that Alex Baskin came to you guys and.

[Reza Farahan]

Great question. I was actually in London shooting Worst Cooks in America, and Alex Baskin called me while I was there and said, hey, what do you think about doing a show? Kind of like a reboot, you know? And I was like, with you any day. Because previously we were with a different production company, and I had heard so many amazing things about Alex. The thought of coming back to Bravo with Alex was so appealing that I couldn't resist.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah, I liked how you were so open. And I think it was maybe the first or second episode of the Valley where you talked about, like, when you got fired. It's, like, devastating. It's like, where's my identity? What happened? I mean, that's something me and Teddy bonded over. We got. I think we were fired the same year. And between her and Vicki, we were just like trauma bonding. And it felt like it took a long time for life to feel normal again, 100%.

[Reza Farahan]

It was very difficult for me. I was very honest about it with my family and friends who were super supportive because I was just trying to fit back into a new way society. Yeah, like we literally, I, I, Tamara, I would call it, like I was institutionalized. Like, I got out of jail. You know, like, yes. How someone who's in prison is like free now and like, you re acclimate to civilian life. It was crazy.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah. It took me like a good year to like really feel normal again. It was 12 solid years of my life. And then all of a sudden, everything's upside down, you know, as you know, it's like the crew that you saw all the time in your house is now gone.

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[Tamra Judge]

It's crickets too. Nobody calls you

[Reza Farahan]

crickets. The silence was deafening. I still had the film on my recessed lights.

[Tamra Judge]

I do too right now.

[Reza Farahan]

And there was no production to be had, so it was just like, oh, my go. I need to shed all the, like, things that reminded me of it. I needed to stop watching Bravo. Like, it was painful for me. And then slowly, you know, I. And I. And I think about Teddy with like the coaching business and everything. I was like, someone needs to come up with a business where we like, do therapy sessions or group therapy for people in reality TV who no longer have rehabilitation.

[Tamra Judge]

Me and Teddy actually talked about that.

[Reza Farahan]

Like, we do one on one sessions where we like just like an Al Anon meeting for people that were fired from reality tv.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah, it's like Andy fired me. Yeah, that's the name of it. Come.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Andy fired me and I survived.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah, that's like a bumper sticker.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Did any of the OG cast from the Valley reach out to you once this was announced?

[Reza Farahan]

So many people from the original Valley hit me up, especially Kristen Doty, who is my client. I found her the house that she's in. They've been incredibly supportive, which is so lovely, as are most people on Bravo. I know I don't have to tell you guys. I feel and have always felt because I've known Tamra since we used to shoot those Summer by Bravo commercial, like back in the 18th century. Like, it's like a family. And yeah, being back and being embraced by people that, you know, came after I was fired is a really good feeling. Like, it feels like I came back. I've got like stepbrothers and sisters. That's a new family. It's been really nice, Teddy. Thank you for asking.

[Tamra Judge]

Eddie still jokes to this day. Like, if anybody ever asked me, do you ever get starstruck? Like you meet a lot of interesting people and he's like, only once. And it was Reza. It was when we were in New York. I don't remember what we were doing was the very first time I like dropped everything in the lobby of the hotel and I'm like, Reza, I was so excited to meet you.

[Reza Farahan]

I love like and I watch all the shows, so I feel the same affinity towards you. Like, I've loved you from the gate.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, well, I know there's some people that you don't like.

[Reza Farahan]

I mean there definitely are.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh my gosh. That was all over the world wide web. So who's your favorite housewife then? Let's switch it.

[Reza Farahan]

I have so many. I mean Dolores is definitely in the top three. Chanel Ion. I love Tamra. I love people like I give. So I love Angie. I love Lisa, all the Lisa's Barlow,

[Tamra Judge]

every single one of them.

[Reza Farahan]

I mean I did worst cooks in London with Lisa Barlow. So I got to work with her as a castmate and not on like a house, you know, not on a Broadway show with her. And she's totally different, you know, then you know how it is when you are colleagues with one another and you're friends but you're on a show. It's such a complex.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Was she glammed every day for that?

[Reza Farahan]

Oh my God. The outfits, the everyday drip, drip, drip. Like I felt like a peasant. Oh my God. She was dripping every day looking gorgeous and snatched.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

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[Jo Winterstein]

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[Tamra Judge]

mini driver, the Irish traveler said when I was 16. You're gonna have a terrible time with men.

[Jo Winterstein]

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[Tamra Judge]

He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms on different houses, in different places, but just an embracing of the isness of it all.

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[Teddi Mellencamp]

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[Reza Farahan]

I realized that it would take more than a prescription to lose weight and

[Teddi Mellencamp]

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[Tamra Judge]

I relate to Adam a lot because you had said, and you're a lot like Eddie. He's not as affectionate as you are. And it's, you know, it's like, and I love that scene where you guys sat down and you like held hands. You're across from each other and this is what I need from you. I think more marriages need to do that because I come from a family that was like, hey, your ass doesn't look that big today. Like, there was no touching, no affection, no hugging, no nothing. And Eddie is Mexican and that's all they do is hug and kiss same.

[Reza Farahan]

Mexican culture is very similar to Persian culture. I grew up with a mom who would pick me up from school and wouldn't let me in the car until I gave her a hug and a kiss. And I was a kid and I was embarrassed to do it in front of my friends, but now looking back on it, it was so special to me. Like, literally when I call her, you would think I just got back from war. This bitch is like, I love you so much. I talked to you yesterday. Like, and then my husband talks to his mom, literally on speaker. He'll be like, hey. And she's like, hey. And then I'm like, what is that? But he comes from a military household. You know, his father is a retired Air Force colonel and it was very different. And he some, I, I just, I need more and more. We, luckily we went to counseling together and she told us to do these check ins, which we do religiously and they're very helpful. I feel like if we didn't do them, we wouldn't be in a good Place with one another because we get to get out those little things that might be, like, festering. That could turn into a big thing.

[Tamra Judge]

Well, it made me kind of open my eyes when I saw that scene because, like, we will literally get out of bed, and then I'll walk around and Eddie just comes up like, what are you looking that. Why I just got out of bed with you. Why I am like, Adam.

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah.

[Tamra Judge]

We don't need to hug. We just got out of bed.

[Reza Farahan]

No, I want to hug. Like, kiss me. Hold me. If I'm at the sink in the kitchen, come up behind me and, like, give me a little kiss.

[Tamra Judge]

Like, oh, you need Eddie.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

That is so funny.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, my gosh. So you guys have been together for, I mean, how many years now? 11 years? 10 years.

[Reza Farahan]

We've been married for 10, together for 15. And in gay years, that's like 30.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

That's a long time.

[Reza Farahan]

Long time.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And how often do you do these check ins?

[Reza Farahan]

Every night.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Every night?

[Reza Farahan]

Every night. It's really quick, though, Teddy. It's like, how are you? How are you feeling? What can I do for you tomorrow? What do you need from me?

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, my God. I. I think I'm gonna incorporate this into our life.

[Reza Farahan]

It's really. She said, like, don't, like, make it

[Teddi Mellencamp]

just, like, don't over complicate it.

[Reza Farahan]

Protracted thing, Bullet points. Like, pretend you're on. Watch what happens. Live, like, snappy answers. Like, really fast. Like, the show's moving.

[Tamra Judge]

Has it ever created a fight between you guys?

[Reza Farahan]

Not at all.

[Tamra Judge]

Really.

[Reza Farahan]

It actually, it alleviates fights. It's like a pressure relief valve. I always feel better afterwards, and I'm always receptive to anything. Like, this is the man I love. Like, we're married. And if he's telling me something in a moment where we're having a check in with one another, I'm all ears. Like, I want to be president for it.

[Tamra Judge]

Do you ever look at him, hold his hand and go, you make too much tabouli?

[Reza Farahan]

No, because everybody. Because people are obsessed with his tabouli. And it's so to see him embrace Middle Eastern things. Our music, our culture, our food. It's literally. My mom fell in love with him because he has just found a place in our family, and everyone literally adores him because he's such a mensch.

[Tamra Judge]

Can you clear it up? Is tabuli.

[Reza Farahan]

Middle Eastern is 100% Middle Eastern. It's also Mediterranean, but it's not specifically

[Tamra Judge]

Persian because somebody said something like, it's

[Reza Farahan]

not even bomb squad, but those two that husband and wife, bless their hearts, they're very negative. They tend to. They. They. They tend to always have something to say, but what you hear out of them isn't the most positive.

[Tamra Judge]

Right. And now he's married to sky, right?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yes.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

Right. Oh, yeah. She's real positive. She's good tv. Because I wanted to jump through my TV last week when she kept going on and on about him not getting a bartender. It's not that important. You guys are in a. You're in a backyard.

[Reza Farahan]

It is.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

How many people were there? Because it for sure wasn't 40.

[Tamra Judge]

There's like eight people in the backyard.

[Reza Farahan]

Maybe 12 people total. And if you count, like, production, maybe 20, literally. And there was. There was champagne and white wine. What was the bartender going yourself? Yeah, literally. But she wants to present a certain image, and she wanted the bartender there. And that's what was really bothering her about the bartender situation. It was the outward presentation for us, and we were all like, this backyard is literally the size of a shoebox. One more body would have made it feel even more claustrophobic than it already did.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

What did you think about Gigi when she just lit up a joint without asking?

[Reza Farahan]

Well, we were outside. The kids were nowhere in sight. And the funny thing was, sky took a couple hits of that joint. So what? The fact that now you're gonna reprimand someone you know, it's like, come on, girl.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, my gosh. Can we talk about the Porsche that was delivered?

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

Did they keep it?

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah, of course.

[Tamra Judge]

Okay. I just. I didn't know if that was. Like, sometimes on these shows. Like, on our show, we had somebody get a Rolls Royce. Now, they lived in a condo, but he delivered a Rolls Royce to the hotel. I think you know who I'm talking about. And it was return the next day.

[Reza Farahan]

No, they. They drive it. They have it. They actually have multiple. They have a GT3. They have multiple Porsches, a Range Rover, and a Ford Bronco. They do very well, both of them.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

They're very successful because they make it out that only she does.

[Reza Farahan]

Well, no, he's. He. The funny thing is we have sky and bomb squad who talk and showboat to a level that is not real. And Greg downplays it. Like, their home is very expensive. Greg is not only a mortgage broker, he's a very successful developer and has a multimillion dollar project new construction, the home that he's building from the ground up. So a lot of his cash is invested in this property that he's developing. So he may not be cash flush. And he's not trying to impress anyone because everyone already knows who he is, what he's done, and what he has.

[Tamra Judge]

Okay, so that makes sense.

[Reza Farahan]

He's not out here trying to talk about, like, we are moving to the Bel Air. I hate the Valley Girl. Where are you still living? Did you know you've been talking about Bel Air for a minute now? We shot that show a while ago. Are you in Bel Air yet?

[Tamra Judge]

That's funny.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

What are your thoughts on half your cast not sleeping in the same bed together?

[Reza Farahan]

Well, with Tanning and Greg, I totally understand it. But with Bomb Squad and Sky, she hates him. He's literally, once you could tell she hates that man. He's so afraid. It's his third wife. She is wife number three. So for him, he literally, he takes whatever she dishes out because he's so afraid of having another divorce under his belt. He has no spine. She runs that house.

[Tamra Judge]

You know how reality shows go. If they're on long enough, they will end up divorced.

[Reza Farahan]

Oh, they. She. 100%. She does not like this man.

[Tamra Judge]

Do you think they'll be the first ones to split up? Not that we want anybody to split up, but it just seems like they. She does not like him.

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah. Unfortunately, MJ and her marriage ended up dissolving. Yeah, first. But I definitely think sky and Bomb Squad are next because he is not going to be able to tolerate her much longer. He's already in another bedroom. She really talks down to him.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, that's sad.

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Speaking of MJ and her split up, was it hard for you to watch back some of those scenes, like when they went on the date or, um, just even when they're trying to have conversation, you can see how much they're struggling and how kind of uninterested he is in hearing what she has to say.

[Reza Farahan]

It was very hard for me, Teddy, because MJ is such an angel that the whole time she was talking to me in a way where I thought she was very happy in her marriage, she was picked. She literally painted a picture for me and made him out to be something that I did not see on the screen. So I'm thinking she's happy. She's satiated in this marriage. She's loved and taken care of. And then I watched the show and I felt really bad for my friend. And then when she opened up to me about what was really going on, I felt really sad that she was hoping the tide would turn and she didn't want any of us to think negatively about Him. So she was trying to paint a rosier picture than was.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah. You can tell even when they film together that she tries to protect him, because some of the things he says to her, I would have, like, just chopped him in the Adam's apple right there on scene. And she's like, okay. Like, very passive.

[Reza Farahan]

You know, she was.

[Tamra Judge]

And that's not really her personality.

[Reza Farahan]

Not at all. But for her son and for her family, she really, really tried.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah.

[Reza Farahan]

It's very sad. Yeah.

[Tamra Judge]

Gigi. Gigi had said in a scene that, you know, that MJ was kind of insecure and didn't think she can get a man other than Tommy, and that's kind of why I would assume she would stay with him. But do you believe that's true?

[Reza Farahan]

Which is crazy to me, because MJ is like, vava voom. Like, yeah, Men. When we were. I've known MJ since I've been a teenager. MJ has never had a problem getting a man. Now, some of the men she was getting, I wouldn't, like, think they were marriage material, but men love mj. She's voluptuous, she's funny, she's successful. She's got everything going for her. I completely disagree with Golmez's assessment.

[Tamra Judge]

I thought that was kind of a weird assessment, too. But I think that MJ might go after men like her mom, and her mom's been very hard on her, and we've seen it on camera. So she needs to break that cycle.

[Reza Farahan]

That's for sure, 100%, that listening to that is not helpful. You know, it's. You can tune it out a certain degree, but the rest of it, it penetrates. And if you have someone around you constantly telling you that you don't measure up, you're not enough. You don't look right, you're not successful. It's like. It's toxic.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Especially when you have two people doing that. Yeah.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes. And then you're watching your. Your child pick, emulate little habits. And there are sponges at that age, and you want to make sure that that's not how they see you and that's not how they talk to you.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah. What did you think about Gigi reconnecting with Dennis?

[Reza Farahan]

It was very hard for me to get on board with Dennis, only because I was there, like, comforting her, because he literally was engaged to a friend that she took to her wedding. They eloped in Vegas. She had two girlfriends with her, and he ended up, like, within days of their annulment. Or maybe there was an overlap. I Don't know. I'm just speculating.

[Tamra Judge]

I mean, it was a whole week.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes. But like cut to there together. And this is the grossest part. Goldness and Dennis got tattoos of the place they were married at. The address was like 555. And they each got 555 tattooed on their body. When he ended up with the new girl, they also got a three digit tattoo.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, he should have just changed his to 666.

[Reza Farahan]

I'm like, bro, can you not like get another tattoo? Like a word? Like, why another three? Like, it's so corny.

[Tamra Judge]

That is corny.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

But this is the part that confused me because he was sitting there saying that. Well, first she says, you know, the only reason she was with him was to get back at her ex. And then it kind of made it seem like they weren't really together when they got married.

[Reza Farahan]

Honestly, she was with another guy that she was in love with. And I had never seen her that strong. And whatever was going on in that relationship, it wasn't working out. And. And then cut to, she goes to Vegas and marries Dennis. And I was thinking, oh, this is not going to end well. And it didn't.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Do you think it's kind of convenient that Dennis just comes right back on now that you guys are back on a show?

[Reza Farahan]

I mean, Dennis, I'm going to say something. I'm going to for sure get in trouble for it. So we did not have a premiere party. We had A I need $100 from you to come to Dennis's house for this premier party party. So we all have to pay $100 to go to Dennis's house to have a premiere party. While we're at Dennis's house and Dennis is rich. We're like in a $5 million house. While we're at Dennis's house, there's a cake there and it's got a picture of the cast on it. Dennis's daughter sees the cake and says to Dennis, hey, daddy, how come you're not on the cake? And I'm thinking, because your daddy ain't on the show.

[Tamra Judge]

Like, oh my.

[Reza Farahan]

Like someone's friend. But Dennis loves the camera.

[Tamra Judge]

Like, why Was he charging $100? What are you in high school?

[Reza Farahan]

I don't know that he specifically charged 100. I feel like the people that put the party on collect money.

[Tamra Judge]

I thought maybe it was at his house house or something.

[Reza Farahan]

It was at his house. Like, it was very off putting. Like, I was talking a lot of smack afterwards about the party.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

I would $100 entrance fee.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes. Yeah, I did not like that.

[Tamra Judge]

A little steep. Good Lord. I didn't know he was rich.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

Well, your memoir comes out April 7, which is pretty amazing. There it is. Can you tell us, give us a little tidbit about it.

[Reza Farahan]

Totally. It's basically my story of how we ended up in America. It's very time sensitive because of what's going on in Iran right now. We basically came to America on a vacation and then a revolution happened. Happened in our home country. And it's just the story of finding my way. And when I was little, Tamara, my mom would say, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I would say, I want to be the Shah, which means I want to be the king of Iran. Because the king of Iran is called the Shah.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh my God.

[Reza Farahan]

And I wanted to. I literally like, you know how you ask a little American kid, what do you want to be? And they say, I want to be the President. I wanted to be the king of Iran. I grew up in this country. The monarchy was abolished and I manifested a frickin reality show.

[Tamra Judge]

Did you name the show?

[Reza Farahan]

I didn't name it. They wanted to call it Sultans of Sunset. And I said, you guys, we're Persian. We don't have sultans, we have shahs. And they made it Shahs of Sunset.

[Tamra Judge]

So you had to say so we

[Reza Farahan]

had to say so. But it wasn't like me, you know, it was all of us as a group. But like I literally manifested it. And it's just a book about where I came from and like how I got to where I'm at and just stories about how my dad picked up and had to start all over and was able to provide a beautiful life for us in Beverly Hills. And it's just all about things I've never talked about on Shadows of Sunset. It's my relationship stuff is in there. When I went to go do the audible version, I literally was cringing because I had forgotten how vulnerable and raw I was with everything like it was. It's exciting but very scary to have so many personal details that no one's ever known in writing that are going to, you know, people access to.

[Tamra Judge]

How long did it take you to write?

[Reza Farahan]

Took me a very long time. I had one ghostwriter I was working with. We had to get rid of her. We hired another ghostwriter. Then the show got canceled. It just was like. It was a very, let's put it this way, I referred Heather Gate to my book agent. She published two books before And I started before her.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, my gosh. That's crazy. Are you going on a book tour?

[Reza Farahan]

Hopefully going on a book tour after it comes out. Yes.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, good. That's amazing.

[Reza Farahan]

Thank you.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Getting back to the show a little bit more, there's a lot of discussion about Gigi and her wanting to move but needing to downsize and trying to find a place. And they showed one clip of where she lives now.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

And it looked like there was, like, three bedrooms full of clothes, and then the rest is where they live.

[Reza Farahan]

Yes.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Does she still live there?

[Reza Farahan]

Yes. She lives in a massive house, and she has so many clothes. I think she has, like, five or six bedrooms. And it's just her and her son.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Right.

[Reza Farahan]

It's a huge house. And I was raised by a Persian Jew who literally, like, instilled in me that, like, you never rent. You always buy. You don't charge things on your credit card. If you can't afford to pay for something, you don't charge it and pay interest because you end up paying double for something.

[Tamra Judge]

That's how I was raised too, when you charge it.

[Reza Farahan]

So when I talk to my friends, I'm realizing I'm at the age of. That my dad was, like, instilling all of these things in me, and I care about my friends. And the thought of my friends spending $10,000 a month on rent when she could downsize, save the money because we're on a show together. I know. How much money you make?

[Tamra Judge]

Is she paying? Is her dad pain?

[Reza Farahan]

No, girl, she gotta pay.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, she's got to pay now. Daddy's not paying anymore.

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah, she gotta pay, you know? And I. I think to myself, like, there's no chance I would want to use that much of my check as. As rent. I own two houses. One of my houses pays me so much rent that the rent pays for me to live in my other house for free.

[Tamra Judge]

That's smart.

[Reza Farahan]

In my house. So the thought of my friend wasting money gets under my skin. So sometimes I give advice that people don't appreciate, but it comes from love. Like, I'm not.

[Tamra Judge]

We have people on our cast that pay. Don't own a house, but pay $15,000 a month on rent.

[Reza Farahan]

I tell Shannon, like, I was literally on the phone with her yesterday, Tamara, and I was like, girl, you need to buy some income property, because when this show is over, you need some tenants paying you rent.

[Tamra Judge]

Because all of we're immigrants.

[Reza Farahan]

None of my relatives had 401ks or pensions or anything like that, but they all had real est that by the time they were old, they owned 10, 15 houses, 20 apartment buildings. And they were rich, not working, collecting boatloads.

[Tamra Judge]

That's my plan. Yeah, that's my plan. I'm over here saving all my money and buying houses, paying off houses, 401ks, all this stuff. Yeah.

[Reza Farahan]

You know what's up?

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah, I just want passive income. I want to be comfortable when I'm old. Older, I should say. I'm already old.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

How long did you know the other cast members before they came on? The ones that you weren't close with prior?

[Reza Farahan]

So I've known Greg and Tanning for years, like maybe a decade. I've known Greg and Tanning. I've known Reza, Jax for years. Amira, Natasha. I knew from the periphery because Goldnessa was friends with them and they are. Their kids went to school together. MJ's son and Elijah and Natasha and Amir's kids go to school together. So I would hear about them all the time. But I didn't have a big relationship with them. I do now. I friggin adore Natasha and Amir. I adore them. They're amazing. I love Greg and Tanning as well. Sky and Bomb Squad, I did not know at all. I knew that sky was Tanning's best friend, but I had like, she just is not my cup of tea. So I wasn't really trying to be like homies with her. With them.

[Tamra Judge]

Yeah.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Why does it seem like Tannen is just not into her husband at all? Is that because for me, like, I saw that the. The scene from her accident, and I immediately felt like I had PTSD from all my brain surgeries and seeing that scar and all of those things. So I can only imagine how she felt. And he was there for her. But, like, then we see them kind of talking and it seems like she's kind of checked out. Is that how they are in person?

[Reza Farahan]

So what a wonder. Great observation. Teddy. He has, I think, and obviously I'm not a doctor or an expert, but from what Tanya tells me and from hanging around Greg, he has like severe adhd. Like, if she's trying to have a conversation about something that's important to her, like her gone shopping and trying to talk to him about her day, he has a very short attention span. He, like, literally can't focus in. And the same way I tell Adam, like, I need more affection, she needs more connection. And he is wonderful in a lot of ways, but comes up short in a lot of others. So they are literally. They try. They try and they love each other, but they have their issues, and I'm grateful that they're very open about them as opposed to trying to present this outward image that we're perfect, we're rich, we're attractive and all as well.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

What would you do if your husband was texting with somebody at 2 in the morning?

[Reza Farahan]

I would be. I would be really upset, but my husband would be the type because he's, like, goofy and sweet that, like, he could get himself mixed up into a situation that would be very upsetting for me, but I would know that, like, he's just. He's so sweet and goofy and not thinking properly. And he was trying to be helpful, gave his number to someone and was like, oh, we're. We're tourists in this town. You know, you live here. Can you tell us where to go? And end up getting DMed or hit up? And I would be very upset with him, and I would let him know and he would catch on and not do it again, but it would be very upsetting to me.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Yeah. And I know you have to go because you have such a busy day.

[Reza Farahan]

Guys, this was so much fun. I'm so upset that you have not had me on sooner, and I want to come back.

[Tamra Judge]

You can come back anytime you want.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Anytime you want, anytime. Any teases you want to give us for what we have to look forward to.

[Reza Farahan]

Okay, Not Thursday's episode, which is very good, but next Thursday's episode. Get your popcorn, call your girlfriend. Really about to go down.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, I can't wait.

[Reza Farahan]

Yeah, it's about to go down.

[Tamra Judge]

Oh, my God. Who's in the middle of that drama?

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh,

[Reza Farahan]

I might be. I might be. I don't want to give anything away, but literally, the next.

[Tamra Judge]

Of course you are.

[Reza Farahan]

Are so good, and I am, like, stirring that.

[Tamra Judge]

We're going to give you a big old spoon.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, my gosh. Well, thank you so much for coming on. We really appreciate it.

[Reza Farahan]

You guys are amazing. I have so much fun. No wonder this pod is so successful.

[Tamra Judge]

You guys rock.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Oh, thank you.

[Tamra Judge]

Thank you.

[Reza Farahan]

Thank you, guys.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Bye.

[Tamra Judge]

Have a great day.

[Reza Farahan]

You too. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.