#2856 Below Deck Bonus: Chef Tzarina Plates It Up

Summary

Watch What Crappens Episode #2856: Below Deck Bonus – Chef Tzarina Plates It Up

Release Date: May 23, 2025
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Guest: Chef Zarina from Below Deck Down Under

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Introduction

In this special bonus episode of Watch What Crappens, hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam delve deep into the tumultuous second season of Below Deck Down Under with a special guest—Chef Zarina. The episode provides an insider’s perspective on the behind-the-scenes drama, personal challenges, and the intense environment aboard the yacht.

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Returning to Below Deck Down Under

[03:47] Laura:
“We have a very special episode today… we are lucky enough to have her on the episode today. We have recorded an interview with her and without further ado, let's get right into it.”

[04:21] Laura:
“Everyone, please welcome to Watch what Crappens, the one and only the Chef. The chef of Down Under, Zarina. Hi, Zarina. How are you?”

[04:29] Chef Zarina:
“Hi. Good. Thank you for having me.”

Chef Zarina expresses her excitement and nervousness about potentially attending BravoCon, highlighting the anticipation and eagerness to engage more deeply with the Below Deck community.

---

Season 2: A Rollercoaster of Emotions and Challenges

[06:04] Ronnie Karam:
“How's it been the second time around for you?”

[06:06] Chef Zarina:
“It was just a complete… opposite of my first experience. It was like night and day.”

Chef Zarina details the stark contrast between her first and second seasons. While the first season was filled with camaraderie and positive relationships, the second season was marred by persistent conflicts and overwhelming stress.

[07:13] Ronnie Karam:
“They're showing a lot of the rocking becomes actually part of the storyline where people are barking.”

[07:20] Chef Zarina:
“I was miserable the whole time because I'm just seasick constantly.”

The physical discomfort of being seasick compounded the mental strain, making the working conditions on the yacht even more challenging.

---

Interpersonal Drama and Conflicts

[10:32] Laura:
“Are there certain things like industry standards… or are the rules just subjective?”

[10:55] Chef Zarina:
“I actually googled what a sous chef's role is on that size boat, and it was everything that I was asking him to do.”

Chef Zarina discusses the confusion and mismatch in roles between her and the sous chef, attributing part of the conflict to differing expectations and lack of clear communication.

[12:36] Ronnie Karam:
“Well, it was interesting to see once those guys left… it moved over to women dynamic.”

The shift in dynamics from male-dominated tensions to female interpersonal conflicts marked a significant turning point in the season, altering the nature of the drama.

[13:34] Chef Zarina:
“She uses… I kept being like, break up with him.”

Chef Zarina shares personal frustrations stemming from Lara’s manipulative behavior, highlighting the toxic environment that developed.

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Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms

[27:41] Chef Zarina:
“It's been a huge learning curve… understanding limits and boundaries.”

Chef Zarina emphasizes the importance of mental health support provided by Bravo, contrasting it with her personal long-term therapy. She credits mental health resources for helping her maintain composure amidst chaos.

[28:51] Laura:
“I love therapy.”

[28:53] Chef Zarina:
“I’m a therapy whore.”

The candid discussion about seeking therapy sheds light on the emotional toll the season took on Chef Zarina and the proactive steps she took to manage her mental well-being.

---

Behind the Scenes vs. On-Screen Portrayals

[32:11] Ronnie Karam:
“Are you seeing any stuff that makes you look at her differently?”

[33:38] Chef Zarina:
“For me, it's just like the biggest stab in the back for me… I put you on that platform and told everyone how incredible you were.”

Chef Zarina reflects on the disparity between her genuine support for Lara and the antagonistic relationship portrayed on screen, expressing disappointment and betrayal.

[34:56] Ronnie Karam:
“People seem to feel the need for that drama and just go for the most comfortable way to get the drama.”

The hosts discuss the phenomenon of manufactured drama for television, noting how it exacerbates real-life tensions.

---

Environmental Challenges on the Yacht

[36:07] Ronnie Karam:
“Well, this is like one of the sweatiest seasons we've ever seen.”

[36:15] Chef Zarina:
“I have no air conditioning and I'm in a stainless steel prison. My feet were so swollen…”

The lack of air conditioning on the yacht added a layer of physical discomfort, intensifying the already stressful environment for the crew.

---

Conclusion: Moving Forward

[37:35] Chef Zarina:
“With studying therapy… it's been a huge learning curve.”

Chef Zarina shares her journey of growth and learning from the season, emphasizing the personal development and resilience she has gained despite the challenges.

[39:46] Laura:
“Well, I'm glad that you’ve managed to emerge from this boat without being totally traumatized.”

[41:16] Ronnie Karam:
“You’re just talking… this is my version of how it happened and this is how I feel.”

The episode concludes with mutual appreciation and understanding, as Chef Zarina opens up about her experiences and the lessons learned, fostering a sense of closure and hope for healthier future interactions.

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Notable Quotes

• Chef Zarina [06:06]: “It was just a complete, like, opposite of my first experience… night and day.”
• Chef Zarina [10:55]: “I actually googled what a sous chef's role is on that size boat, and it was everything that I was asking him to do.”
• Chef Zarina [27:41]: “It's been a huge learning curve and you know, understanding limits and boundaries.”
• Chef Zarina [33:38]: “I put you on that platform and told everyone how incredible you were.”
• Chef Zarina [36:15]: “I have no air conditioning and I'm in a stainless steel prison.”

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of Watch What Crappens offers a raw and honest look into the behind-the-scenes turmoil of Below Deck Down Under’s second season through Chef Zarina’s experiences. From interpersonal conflicts and role misunderstandings to the physical and emotional challenges faced on the yacht, the discussion provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of the pressures reality TV can impose on its participants. Chef Zarina’s reflections on mental health and personal growth add a poignant layer to the narrative, making this episode both engaging and insightful for fans and newcomers alike.

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For more exclusive content, bonus episodes, and access to the community Discord server, support Watch What Crappens at www.patreon.com/watchwhatcrappens. Listen to more episodes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

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[Laura]

Who cares what happens when there's so much that happens? Hello and welcome to Watch what Crap Ends, a podcast about all that crap on Bravo that we just love to talk about. I'm Ben Mandelker and joining me today is the wonderful and glorious Ronnie Caram.

[Sarina]

Hey, Ronnie.

[Laura]

What's going on?

[Ronnie Karam]

Well, hello, Ben.

[Sarina]

Hi.

[Laura]

We have a very special episode today. And first, by the way, let me mention patreon.com watchfulcrappins to watch us on video, catch our bonus episodes, all that great stuff, recaps of the White Lotus Traders, Love island starting in June. Great stuff going on. But for today we're very excited because we've been super into Below Deck down under and one of our favorites on that show is the chef, Serena. And we are lucky enough to have her on the episode today. We have recorded an interview with her and without further ado, let's get right into it, shall we?

[Ronnie Karam]

Let's do it.

[Laura]

Everyone, please welcome to Watch what Crappens, the one and only the Chef. The chef of Down Under, Zarina. Hi, Zarina. How are you?

[Chef Zarina]

Hi. Good. Thank you for having me.

[Laura]

Oh, my goodness, we're so excited to have you on the show and we have so many questions. I, first of all, my, my first question is, do you know, are you going to be able to. Are you going to Bravo Con this year?

[Chef Zarina]

Okay. So I'm actually trying to look for the email to see where my invite is because it's obviously lost somewhere. But I really thought that I would be going and I'm just every day like refreshing my email, like maybe they got my email address wrong because my invite should be here somewhere. But you never know who they're going to invite last minute and hopefully it will be Me?

[Ronnie Karam]

Well, just ask them. I think that's one of the things. You don't wait around because they're rambling. So many people, literally.

[Chef Zarina]

Like, who do I call up? Like, hi, Mr. Bravocon. I don't know.

[Laura]

Yes, Mr. Bravocon is actually. It's actually a real person and is in control of all the invitations we've heard.

[Chef Zarina]

Well, if you get that email for me from. Mr. BravoCon.

[Ronnie Karam]

We don't get emails. Are you kidding? We'll be outside their window, like, climbing up, like, are you having.

[Chef Zarina]

I'm gonna be joining you by the sounds of it.

[Sarina]

We're just gonna be watching.

[Ronnie Karam]

Just come anyway. I just go to that to gamble, so just come and we'll just play. We'll play.

[Laura]

Yeah, we'll have the whole time.

[Chef Zarina]

Oh, there we go. We're just. Let's share an Airbnb and just turn up.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah, exactly. We'll just get a hotel across the street. And then you just come and say hi to fans anyway. And then just go.

[Chef Zarina]

Exactly. Just go. Sorry, Asia. Sorry, Kate. Hi.

[Sarina]

So how are you?

[Laura]

So how's it been going with this second season of Below Deck Down Under? How's it been the second time around for you?

[Ronnie Karam]

This is not just a second.

[Chef Zarina]

It's just a complete. It was just a complete, like. Like, opposite of. Of my first experience, you know, And I. And I. It's like. It's like night and day, you know? And I just.

[Laura]

In what way?

[Chef Zarina]

I just. I came out my. My first season just so happy and had these friendships and, like, like, no worries. And, like, Asia and I still talk together, talk to Margot, talk to everyone, you know, like, Harry was coming to visit me all the time to then this season. Like, it was just this, like, whirlwind of mayhem of just. I felt like it's just dicks are being chucked at my face every day with everything from, like, Weevils to the sous chef to, you know, Lara to everything to just. I was like, what the is happening? I literally felt like I was pulling every single short straw this season. And also the rocking on that boat. Like, I am miserable the whole time because I'm just seasick constantly.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah. Episode. They're showing a lot of the rock. The rocking becomes actually part of the storyline where people are barking.

[Chef Zarina]

Finally.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah. But they hadn't showed that the whole season. Right. I don't feel like that was a big part of the season.

[Chef Zarina]

I mean, this. Because there's so much drama. Thank you. To Enchante. But I just. Yeah. There was no space or the rocking, but it was like that almost constantly, and I was just, you know, And I think also, as well, like, something that I've, like, out of this season, like, even though I had a sous chef, I actually had less time, and I didn't actually. I was more focused on giving Alicia breaks, so I would work harder because I just wanted to look after her so much. But I don't. I don't really think in the day or anything. I had a break. I was just like, 20 hours a day.

[Laura]

Why did you have less time?

[Chef Zarina]

I don't know. I think it was because the provisions, getting them to the Seychelles from France, like, the amount of paperwork that I was having, and then constant calls from the provisioners who do an incredible job, but they have no control of what happens in France. So that you create this whole menu, you get all excited, you get your order in, and then, like, it's always like the day before. Oh, we couldn't get this. We couldn't get that. And then. So you're then suddenly recreating menus, and then every single night felt like, ready, steady cook, because you don't actually know what turns up because it's coming in from a flight from France and surprised.

[Laura]

They didn't show that, actually. I guess there was just so much interpersonal drama that they didn't want.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, I just think there's so much personal drama that. That is, like, boring.

[Ronnie Karam]

I guess your season started off with that douchebag sous chef who was like, I'm gonna go work somewhere else, be. Be a star. And I heard that his next charter didn't last either, that he went to. Do you know any gossip on that? Dude, I.

[Laura]

Did he reach out to you? Did he ever reach out to you to be like, oh, sorry, I was a dick?

[Chef Zarina]

None of that.

[Ronnie Karam]

Facebook friends. Was he like, hey, I'm following.

[Chef Zarina]

He's on his own path. And really, like, something I will give him credit for is that he is actually an incredible chef. He just needs to drop some ego. And in the future, he could actually be something incredible. Like, he really, really. He really was good. Even, like, you know, I know he, like, messed up a few dishes and the octopus and stuff like that, but it's just the fact that every single chef makes mistakes. And you don't have to exaggerate it. Point fingers. Like, he always did. Like, you know, he made a mistake, and I was like, happens, you know, but it's like this craving for perfection. And a lot of people this season was really. It was. It was very intense for this. You know, I think it's new people on the screen as well with, you know, like, you know, that this is how the world's going to see me. So I have to be perfect when I think, like, more personalities like Asia and I are basically like, let's just get this done, you know, and cut as many corners as possible and just smile as much as we can, you know, Are there.

[Laura]

Do. Do you feel like, are the rules for, like, sous chefs kind of, are they just sort of subjective from chef to chef, kitchen to kitchen? Or are there certain things like industry standards? Like if you're a sous chef, you're doing X, Y and Z. Like, where was there like a disconnect or that he. Because he seemed to think that he was basically going to be essentially like a junior partner to you or something, and you were very much like, yeah, no, you need to do some good stuff to help.

[Chef Zarina]

You never really know what he's been prepared for coming on, you know. But if you. And I did do this post, I actually googled what a sous chef's role is on that size boat, and it was everything that I was asking him to do. But the thing, the credit that I will give him for is the fact that he was used to huge boats, which I've been on also, where the head chef is basically in the office and the sous chef does all the cooking and all of this, and the head chef just comes out to plate the food and go and gives it to the guests and takes all the credit, you know. So I think because he's from these huge yachts that he was used to doing that. But also in those huge boats, they have like, you know, three crew chefs and two guys washing up. And he'd never been on a boat this size before, so I think it was just maybe like the mix up. And that's also from my. My side as a boss, I should have read his CV more and actually come to him and shown him on Google and like, kind of explain to him, like, on this boat, this is actually the role, so let's go with it.

[Laura]

But also the boss. So if you say this is what we're doing, he should just be like, okay, this is what I'm doing. He can also just get in line.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, I think for me, like, when he left, it was like, you know, it was. I feel like when he left and also when Vienne left, it was almost like the season, like started, you know, because before that it was just a lot of, you know, a lot of everything. Yeah, a lot. A lot of male egos and a lot of toxic around. Then suddenly when all the boys left, then it was just Harry and all the girls left on the beach on the day off together, you know.

[Ronnie Karam]

Well, it was interesting to see once those guys left, because the first part of the season was so full of, like, male toxicity and, like, the male ego thing. And then the second part of the season moved over to women ego, like, battling, like, with it kind of moved to women dynamic. And I was like, oh, this is different. Because you don't often see that on the show where it's two heads of department are both women, and just trying to navigate around those feelings and stuff. Because a lot of the stuff that we saw this season on screen was feelings. It was like, well, this is what I felt like because of stuff that happened when I was younger. So it was, you know, like this episode. You're talking a lot about how you're just triggered by Laura because of things that had happened when you were a kid. And then she's talking about, like, how she's triggered by you because of things that happened with her boyfriend and, like, how you acted. Maybe went to lunch with her boyfriend or whatever after you were together, like, egos and how they work together, you know? Yeah. Say for sure.

[Chef Zarina]

I. I literally was at the stage that my therapist was like, drop it, Sarina. We're letting go. It's almost at the end. Lara's saying that on screen that I went to go and have lunch of her cheating boyfriend a month after they broke up. She sent me to go and spy on him to meet the new girl.

[Ronnie Karam]

Oh, and then she used it against you later.

[Chef Zarina]

Against me? She was like, I need to know what this new girl's like.

[Ronnie Karam]

Go.

[Chef Zarina]

Like. And I was like, yeah, well, you know, I don't mind him. I actually saw him at the. The boat show, you know, recently, you know, that's. That's them, you know?

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah.

[Chef Zarina]

You know, and also when we worked on the boat together, he was actually the only person that was nice to me. So I will always take that.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah, it must be hard. I would imagine that being on a. Being a yachty is much like being a gay guy, because we always talk about when we go out, whenever you meet somebody that you're dating, you have to be like, okay, well, who did you bang in this friend circle? You know, because it's a smaller. It's a smaller circle. We can't have that.

[Laura]

I think.

[Chef Zarina]

I think I'm gonna regret saying this, but it's Just like, you know, she uses. Oh, God. But, yeah, it's just like, when I heard that, for me, I was just like, this guy, like, she. He wasn't nice to her. Like, I'm gonna 100 give her that. Like, he cheated on her all the time. She'll come running to my apartment and cry all the time. I'll always let her in, always hug her. Every time. He's cheated on me again. He's cheated on me again. I kept being like, break up with him. Break up with him. And now, watching back this season, because they were working together, I was just thinking, God, all he had to do is say that she was late for work.

[Laura]

You found the trigger point. That's all he had to do.

[Chef Zarina]

That's all he had to do. And then. Then it probably would have.

[Laura]

Been, oh.

[Chef Zarina]

My God, that is so completely bitchy.

[Laura]

That is also funny.

[Ronnie Karam]

Well, you're in the right. You're at the right table for that.

[Chef Zarina]

Really catty. I'm a little bit shocked at myself, I think. I think it was just a bit tricky watching it back and being like, is this girl's still lying?

[Ronnie Karam]

Well, she brought it into evidence. You know what I mean? You didn't bring it up. It was in the show. So.

[Laura]

So you obviously had, like, a really. A close relationship with Laura enough that she would come to your place and would be either crying or whatever. Like, she would be venting to you about her boyfriend. So watching this season, you know, obviously it seemed like a big turning point between the two of you. As presented on screen, was the Mafia night where there was the issue with the plates, and it felt like these were the plates that destroyed a friendship. And how. Why were you guys not able to, like, given that you have, like, a friendship and everything, why were you not guys not able to sort of, like, cut this off at the past? And instead it really just got worse and worse and worse from that point on.

[Chef Zarina]

I just. For me, I just realized, like, if I say no to this person, I. You know, it's. It's gonna make it worse for me. You know, I was having so below Decker. Incredible for this, by the way. After every single charter, I was allowed to take my microphone off and go and have two hours of therapy with my therapist. And so I think this is why I've kept a lot of my cool with certain situations and also not kept my cool in a lot of situations, but basically, like, my. It's just like this constant thing that goes around in my head is that you just. You can't Say no to a narcissist. And so it was like this, like, with the plates. I was like, well, if I. If I say no to her, then that's when the war's gonna start, you know? But then I felt like I really lost something in me. And then in the end, I was like, she's just gonna take everything from me and take my sous chef and take everything unless I actually start standing up for myself. And I can't believe that for the first time I've ever, like, properly stood up for myself, ended up up being on tv.

[Laura]

Wow.

[Ronnie Karam]

You know, because it wasn't really about the plates. Right.

[Chef Zarina]

But it wasn't, if this is the thing, and it wasn't about the crew mess. Like, all the crew were helping out with the crew area, you know, Adair every night was cleaning it. Harry would go down and clean it. Everyone would chip in and help. But it was just this, like, power trip of pokey, pokey, pokey. And I just always felt like I just had to, like, almost stand in front of Alicia and be like, no to her. Yeah.

[Laura]

It's wildly inappropriate. It feels like Alicia is supposed to be in the galley with you, and you're prepping meals. You're doing, like, you guys are the smallest department, and you have to service all these guests and all the crew. You guys have so much literally on your plate. And so it was just wild to us watching that. Like, why. Why is she calling upon Alicia to clean this crew mess? Like, there's literally three decades, three Sues in a swing.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, and literally. And also, like, watching her, like, powwows, lying on the bed, talking about boys in the morning, like, so who's kissed who last night? And all of this. Clean the fucking cream ass.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Ronnie Karam]

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[Unknown]

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[Ronnie Karam]

She got so upset when Alicia went swimming. So it's like, well, you know, extra well done.

[Chef Zarina]

There's actually a different reason why she got upset over that. She basically. It's just she. She wanted to say that Alicia was allowed to go swimming, not me, because before she had basically let her go swimming in the middle of other things that I've done. But they only showed it that time. Jason basically said to me as well, like, like, your girl needs something nice. And I was like, yes, she does. And Elisa gets very tired and she's not a morning person and her brain just needed to wake up, you know, so it's just like, I'm just the best way to do it. It's like it's either getting a cold shower or jump in the water. And there was an opportunity for her to actually do something fun and get some dopamine and some oxytocin. But it was just Lara was upset because she wasn't the one who said, you may go and do this. And I. And I made this.

[Ronnie Karam]

It's a control thing kind of like the rest. I mean, a lot of the questions I think viewers have after watching it is so many of the below decks operate differently, as I imagine different yachts do. I mean, in some of them, you see the chief, stew and the chef go over what dishes are going to be used at the very beginning. Like, here we go. These are the dishes we're going to use tonight. And they kind of go over the theme and everything where it seems like the dishes were something that happened in the very end, or, you know, where she noticed at the very end. Like, I don't want to use these dishes or the crew mess. Like, if the crewmate. If we're not deciding how the crew mess is going to be handled, who decides that? I mean, is that ultimately something that the captain needs to come in and say, okay, well, today I'm going to come in and I'm going to delineate these. You know, I'm gonna give every. I'm gonna make lines in the sand of who does what.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, I think I. I do feel like I needed personally, like, a bit more from Jason and the fact that, like, again, if you Google it, like, the chef, like, outranks a chief stewardess.

[Ronnie Karam]

Right.

[Chef Zarina]

You know, and also, like, I think one of my favorite comments was her being like, she doesn't even call me chief stewardess. I'm not here demanding, being like, please call me head chef. It's head chef's arena to you. Like, I just need to get out food and do it in peace and actually have communication. And I'm so sorry that the radio doesn't match your sexy outfit tonight, but I'm gonna need that communication from you.

[Laura]

Yeah, I said, what do you said?

[Ronnie Karam]

We definitely noted a new microaggression there. I was like, okay, chief stewardess. Noted.

[Sarina]

Yeah, you said. When you.

[Laura]

When you made that comment, I've never had a stewardess like, you know, you know, change me on plates. Whatever it was. Were you trying to get under her skin in that moment or was it just like, you just were tired?

[Chef Zarina]

I'm working 20 hour days. I'm on a night out, you know, Like, I'm so sorry that I didn't say chief. You know, it's.

[Laura]

But when you. When you watched it back, were you kind of like, no, I'm like, I.

[Sarina]

Didn'T even say that.

[Laura]

But it was kind of funny that it got under her.

[Chef Zarina]

No, no, I didn't even really. I didn't really know. Like, I. I didn't see it in a. I didn't see any of it in a malicious way at all. Just because for me, watching back is actually being really emotional. It's seeing a friendship that I thought was really strong, and I'm just watching it collapse more and more and more. And also it's. I feel like it's brought out a. Like, it's almost like she just knows how to poke me and try and get, you know, a reaction in these certain things out of me. So she can go, oh, see, I told you. I told you. She. It's her. You know, she's very good at antagonizing. That's the word.

[Ronnie Karam]

So, you know, we saw in this episode that you guys had made up. You, you know, Jason told her, look, all you have to do is apologize. Apologize. And she was like, yeah.

[Chef Zarina]

And thankfully, like, Like, Jason is just a hero at this point. But still, she thinks, like, you know, I'm favored in some way, and it couldn't possibly be that she's done something wrong. It's because Captain Jason favors me. It's like, why can't you just, you know, just really reflect and just realize that, like, it wasn't about favoritism.

[Ronnie Karam]

Right.

[Chef Zarina]

You know, like, you. You actually have to take some accountability. And if the captain's telling you, just go and do it because he's not telling me, you know, And Captain notices everything. That man is like. It's like a sneaky little cat that just seems in every single department. He knows everything that's going on. That man. He just walks around really hiding behind.

[Ronnie Karam]

The damn door every. Every scene, lurking there here.

[Chef Zarina]

Jason. Jason knows what's. What's going on. He. He knows the deal.

[Ronnie Karam]

He's a stealth kimono. I thought it was interesting when you brought up mental health stuff that they. That below deck is really good about making sure that there's a couple of hours to talk to your therapist. Because you see on some shows like the Bachelor where they have mental health people there as part of the crew. Is that how below deck works, or do you guys have your own people that you can talk to?

[Chef Zarina]

So I. I've had my own therapist for ages, but I've also used the below deck ones whenever at any point while filming, if we say to anyone that's around us or even pointing to a camera and say, you know, I need to talk to the therapist or something, they. They jump straight on it. They. And they. It's obviously all for free through Bravo as well. Like, they really great. That the mental health side of it with Bravo is actually compared to any other reality TV show is incredible. And I. And I've had sessions with their therapist before as well, you know, and it's different to how my therapist is because she's obviously known me for years and knows how my neurodivergent brain works and my ADHD and my patterns and stuff. So it was easier for me to personally, at the end of every charter, have my own personal therapist because she. Because I would be like, you know, I just screamed at Laura, and she'd be like, okay, well, where was that from? You know, so she could help me navigate it so much.

[Laura]

I love therapy. Oh, I'm.

[Chef Zarina]

I'm a therapy whore.

[Laura]

Like, I mean, I imagine after. I mean, one thing that I. When I watch the season, at this point of the season when things are so tense, it's remarkable to me that then you. You two, both have to share a bedroom together and, you know, talk about. I mean, when you talk about therapy, I have to imagine, like, sitting there in that room with the person who's driving you nuts. I mean, how do you. How did you even deal with that? I. I don't know.

[Chef Zarina]

She actually tried to kick me out a few times and move Br. But I kept saying, like, if you want to move, you have to do it. Like, I'm too busy. Like, if you need to move all your stuff and do your thing, then you do it. But, yeah, no, she. She constantly just wanted to bunk with Bri. Like, I think that's literally from, like, Charter, too.

[Laura]

Wow.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah.

[Laura]

You know, and what.

[Sarina]

Were there things, you know, going back.

[Laura]

To what you talked about with the plates, you said, like, you know, you don't want to say no to a narcissist. So that implies that leading up to that plate moment, there were things that were happening between you two that clearly brought you to a place. Like, oh, God, Like.

[Ronnie Karam]

Like.

[Laura]

Like this. This lady's a narcissist. Or at least she's a pain in my ass. And we saw hints of it, but was there. Was there more than. Than was portrayed in the show that was maybe sidelined because of all the van drama?

[Chef Zarina]

It was a lot of comments, mocking, putting me down from day one, which I just wasn't even expecting. It was, like, night and day from the phone call we had before stepping on board of. We're going to be girls. We're going to lift each other up. I love you so much. Much. To. As soon as I go up to her, like, yo, sexy mama. She looks at me like I'm an absolute freaking weirdo. And I was like, wow. Like, something just the tv.

[Ronnie Karam]

The TV effect take place.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, it. To be honest, actually, I didn't think of that. It could be about cameras and having to look and act a certain way, you know?

[Ronnie Karam]

You know, it's part. A lot of it is from watching so many Housewives shows because we cover so much Bravo. And a lot of that happens on Housewives where someone will bring. They'll recommend their friend for a show. Did you recommend. Send her for the show?

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah. Well. So. No. So. Well, yes, I did. So she. She's still in denial about this. But again, like, I had the receipts.

[Ronnie Karam]

So it makes sense. You were on the same boat. And then she ended up on tv. So, I mean.

[Chef Zarina]

Yes. So basically, they wanted her for other franchises. And she kept being like, oh, I don't know. Then she called me up, I think about six months before being like, are you doing down under? Because I will only do below decavine with you. And I was like, and I do that there was someone else that was going to be the chief stewardess. And I. And I, I. She denies this, that I literally basically convinced them and begged them that Lara would be the better option. And I've never regretted anything more. My therapist will hate me for saying that because you never know who the other person would have been. Right.

[Ronnie Karam]

That's true. It could have been a month.

[Chef Zarina]

You know, the world works in its certain ways. And what I've got and realize out of this season is so much learning, you know, and so I think with, you know, the therapy has helped so much. I understand and understanding what toxic behaviors are. And actually this whole season, watching it back now I'm studying therapy. I'm watching it almost like a documentary.

[Ronnie Karam]

You know, Are you seeing any stuff that makes you look at her differently? Like when you see how she's talking about her feelings being hurt or whatever and her confessionals or. I saw she did a. I think it was a TikTok or an Instagram Live or something where she was saying, you know, I know you guys have just watched this episode and all the haters are out in full force. And she didn't really say sorry or anything. I guess it was just a bad episode for her. And she was coming out basically saying on, like, it hurts, you know, when you guys are coming after me and stuff. And I would imagine that would be hard watching having the whole world react.

[Laura]

To you or calling you.

[Chef Zarina]

I feel absolutely terrible for her and the hate that she's getting. Like, there's no person in the world that should ever get death threats. And this is why I went on my social media and was literally like, people need to calm the down. It's a TV show. Like, we can laugh about it, we can make jokes and stuff, but. But the difference is, is at the beginning of everything, of Anthony and everyone saying that I was a chef, I was getting death threats and all of this, but I wasn't going on my social media and crying about it, you know, and all she was doing is putting more fire, like on the flame on her social media. Like, yeah, the siren has always been like this, you know, and, you know, but when it's the other way around. No, you. You stop it. You. You stop the body.

[Ronnie Karam]

She feels like you've always been like that. Then why would she. Why do you think that she would want to come on the same season as you do you think that she. She felt like she would have a built in. I don't know.

[Chef Zarina]

I. I don't know. I. Yeah, I. When. I really don't know, to be honest. Like, I. It. For me, it's really tricky because I feel like I am so proud of myself for being neurodivergent, dyslexic, ADHD and all of this. And I managed to do something as incredible as below Dec deck and support those people and get myself out there and build myself a platform where I'm at a stage where I can actually begin to help other people, to then introduce her into my world, which took me so much in my career to get to that stage. I have the honor of being invited to below deck to then be treated like that. I think that for me was just like the biggest stab in the back for me. It's like I, like, I let you in my world and I put you on a platform from day one. I put you right up there on that platform and told everyone how incredible you were. You know, Messaging Captain Jason got an incredible cheese to this season. All the production, like, you know, this is going to be great. This is going to be great to turn around and get that.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah. What I was going to say earlier, speaking of ADD is when we watch Housewives shows, a lot of times you'll see women bring their friends in and get them on the show, and then the first thing they do, like, within two or three weeks is turn on the friend, you know, on camera. And it's. It's a weird phenomenon that happens when the camera turns on where I think people. It seems like people feel the need for that drama and just go for the most comfortable way to get the drama. Yeah, I think if it's the same.

[Chef Zarina]

I have no idea. I think that maybe the boat was really difficult. The lift didn't work. I think the pressure of all the cameras and everything, I think it must have been really, really hard for Lara and her personality type to be around that and not be able to show how perfect she was and actually have control. Her last captain literally let her have control of the whole boat. And she's always been queen bee, and suddenly there's two people in the way, which is Jason and I, and she's never had that. Yeah, you know, it must have been really difficult on those stairs every day, the heat, you know.

[Ronnie Karam]

Oh, my God.

[Laura]

I actually have a pressing question about this, about the air conditioning. Did you guys have air conditioning on that boat?

[Chef Zarina]

No, I had. I had no air conditioning. The Gaddy.

[Laura]

Because it's like, all season long, we're seeing you guys sweat, but it's, like, not just outside. It's inside. It was a trip just.

[Chef Zarina]

And. And the. I've got for people being like, oh, my God, you're not wearing shoes. You're. You're like. You're in shorts in the kitchen. It's like, I have no air conditioning and I'm in a stainless steel prison. Like, my feet were so swollen, I couldn't get them in to my shoes. Like, I'm. You think I want to wear shorts and be barefoot in a kitchen? Like, I. It was horrendous. Horrendous.

[Laura]

Do they not have air conditioning for the guests as well, or.

[Chef Zarina]

I think some of the guest cabins, I think. Actually, I don't know if it's this episode or the one before. Dan makes a funny comment about being in a guest cabin. She's like, oh, my God, there's actually air conditioning in here. And my nipples are hard, you know, because I think it was just a shock that there was a place on the boat that was actually cool.

[Laura]

Yeah. This is, like, one of the sweatiest seasons we've ever seen. So I guess. I guess one of my last questions here for you is, for you and Lara, is this kind of the end of the road for you, or is it a situation where it's like, oh, we don't work well together, but we can be friends out of the boat. But it sort of sounds like this is. This is it?

[Chef Zarina]

Well, to tell the truth, when things started going sour for her after I took all the hits at the first half of the season, I actually sent her a message and reached out with an olive branch. And, you know, like, you, we don't need to go head to head. We can show, you know, the public that, you know, we can, you know, do this. Like, well, that was my olive branch.

[Ronnie Karam]

It's interesting because I'm always wondering what happens while you guys are waiting for the season to air, because it takes a while. And then as it airs, it's all brought up again.

[Chef Zarina]

Everyone's scared of her. She's. It's. If we had it on our old boats. Even when Adair did her post a few days ago, she said something bad about she. Something about the crew mess. And Adair was like, I actually cleaned that crew mess all the time. And she's like, I'm sorry, Lara. At the end.

[Ronnie Karam]

Whoa.

[Laura]

Wow.

[Zarina]

Wow.

[Ronnie Karam]

So that's why it's interesting that that control would last so long after the season. Even wrapped.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Ronnie Karam]

What are you doing to people?

[Sarina]

That is wild.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah, that's wild. I don't like that.

[Laura]

Wow. Well, I'm glad that you, I'm glad that you, you've, you've managed to emerge from this boat without being totally traumatized.

[Chef Zarina]

To be honest. I'm actually, like I said, like with studying therapy and you know, understanding limits and boundaries, it's been a huge learning curve and you know, I really thought I was going to regret this season, but now I've got to such a good stage with all these other last like few episodes. I've actually been howling with laughter through them. You know, just how, how ridiculous it. Two full grown ass women at it over plates. And like, who does that?

[Laura]

We love it.

[Chef Zarina]

Who gives a.

[Ronnie Karam]

Classic though? I mean Below Deck is so popular because people like to watch people argue about like who mopped. It's my favorite thing ever. Like we'll get really upset about it. It's like she didn't clean that room right.

[Chef Zarina]

But no, I will say though, like everything of Laura and everything, like that boat was difficult and she did do the best that she could. It was a hard boat. It really, really was. And that's going to cause extra stress and tension and all of that.

[Laura]

But yeah, don't I guess like when it comes to people from the past on Below Deck, so far we've had Joao and Lara and it's been, has not, has not so far. We haven't had a great result with either of them. But my question to you is, as we wrap this up, since you are a chef and we both love to cook, I would love to know what your favorite stuff is to cook on a yacht.

[Chef Zarina]

On a yacht or actually off.

[Sarina]

Off a yacht.

[Laura]

Like what do you like to cook?

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah, I'd like to know.

[Chef Zarina]

I mean like everything at home and everything with my private clients, it's all gut health. I'm known as like the gut health queen. I clear people's guts out. So that's what I, I, that's what I specialize.

[Ronnie Karam]

Kimchi.

[Chef Zarina]

Oh my God. My parents have banned me from making kimchi, so. But no, on boats I actually really do enjoy making sushi because it's something that I feel like you can make really, really beautiful.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah. Cool. Well, this has been great chatting with you.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah. I hope it wasn't too.

[Ronnie Karam]

I feel like you hitting your own watch what crappens.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah, I don't want to crap ins and too many people upset.

[Ronnie Karam]

No, it's not, it's not being bitchy. You're just talking. The whole show is about your personalities in the season and how you work together and how it's all up and it's extended past the season, so why not? It's not bitchy.

[Chef Zarina]

Yeah. Yeah, I hope not. It's just, you know, you're always so worried that you're going to, you know, be accused of bullying or all of that, but it's just like, well, this is my version of how it happened and this is how I feel.

[Ronnie Karam]

Yeah, well, being accused of something and it being the truth are two different things. My friends. Thank you so much for being here.

[Chef Zarina]

Thank you so much for having me open.

[Laura]

Yeah, it's great seeing you open book.

[Chef Zarina]

I can't help it.

[Laura]

We love it.

[Ronnie Karam]

To hang out at a slot machine in Vegas. We'll meet you somewhere.

[Laura]

Absolutely.

[Ronnie Karam]

Thank you.

[Laura]

Thank you.

[Chef Zarina]

Thank you so much for having me. Thank you.

[Sarina]

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[Zarina]

It's always a good time when you're wasting time with Bravo. She ain't no shrinking violet Cootard. We love you guys.

[Ben Mandelker]

If you like, watch what crappens. You can listen ad free right now by joining Wondery in the Wondry app or on Apple podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] [e-mail].

[Unknown]

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[Chef Zarina]

Thanks.

[Unknown]

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