Podcast Summary: Watch What Crappens – Ep. #3141: RHOP S10E13 Part 1: Malice in Wanderland

Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In the first part of their recap for The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 10, Episode 13 ("Altitude with Attitude"), Ben and Ronnie indulge in their signature snark, recapping not only the show’s plot but the ever-evolving drama among cast members. They open with comic banter about LA happenings, Bravo world updates, and a hilarious rant about inflation and cream cheese, before plunging into Potomac’s latest. Their tone is irreverent, warm, and mercilessly witty, relishing the foibles and follies of Bravo-lebrities and their own lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Podcast Updates & Banter (00:21–08:43)

• Network Move: The podcast is moving from Wondery back to Acast; the hosts explain technical transitions, reassure listeners, and promote Patreon as the new go-to hub for ad-free and bonus content.
• LA Moments: Both hosts riff on helicopter chases, neighborhood stabbings, and car thefts ("People are stealing Kias now. It's a sensible steal." – Ronnie, 05:54).
• Inflation Rants: They vent about skyrocketing grocery prices (e.g., $7 apples, $10 cream cheese) and joke about dry bagels at home.
  • "Remember the days when we complained about eggs? It's the price of everything now. It's crazy." – Ben (07:24)
• Signature humor: The opening section is filled with their trademark banter, setting a relaxed, comedic tone.

RHOP Episode Recap: Major Storylines

Angel’s Awkwardness & The Circle of Bad Housewives (08:44–10:11)

• Angel's Newfound Entertainment:
  • Ben: “She's so bad at it, that I get excited to see her scenes just to see how bad she will do.”
  • Ronnie: “Angel’s just so bad at this. It's hilarious watching the old guard eat her up.”
• Room Assignments: The hosts laugh over Angel putting Ashley and Giselle in bad rooms—delighting in "watching them get their comeuppance."

Side Plots & Silliness: Ambidextrous Arabella & Sad Billboards (10:11–15:34)

• Wendy's Commencement Speech: Delivered with obligatory gravitas and a side of snark.
• Ambidexterity Skepticism: Stacey's daughter, Arabella, claims she’s ambidextrous. Ronnie doubts her motives, equating it to childhood lies for attention.
  • “I don't believe she's ambidextrous. I think she's just trying to be cool on TV.” – Ronnie (11:19)
• Kieran's Billboard Moment:
  • Kieran unveils her own billboard, reacting as if she won an Oscar.
  • Ronnie: “It’s not like they’re awarding billboards. You bought a billboard… congratulations.” (13:37)
  • Ben: “You’re already on TV, you’re already on a much larger platform.” (15:25)

Tia’s Family Pilgrimage & Banister Rants (15:35–25:33)

• Visiting Her Childhood Home: Tia returns, movingly, to her late father’s home—eliciting both sympathy and eye-rolling.
  • Ronnie: “I want to live in my house without you being like, ‘This is the living room my dead dad used to watch golf in. I shouldn't have to care about your dead dad, bro.’” (16:46)
• Home Design Tangent: The hosts are obsessed with the home's outdated banister.
  • Ben: “I think we need a banister rehab… it was a holdover from like 1983.” (18:04)
  • Ronnie: “Fix the banisters!” (20:19)
• Key Quote:
  • “I'm still mad at the dad. Is that fair? It's not even my dad, and I'm still mad at the dad.” – Ronnie (22:01)
• Emotional Moments Mocked: Ben and Ronnie oscillate between sarcastic detachment and genuine curiosity about Tia's family history and guilt over sibling relationships.

Lunch with the Potomac Ladies (25:34–33:36)

• Ridiculous Outfits and Shady Humor: Ronnie rips on the women for their over-the-top lunch attire.
  • “It’s a competition to see who can dress stupider for lunch.” – Ronnie (25:54)
• Wendy’s Mom Drama: Briefly addressed but quickly sidestepped by the hosts.
• Production of Potomac Events: Rec centers, inexplicable staircases, and the hosts’ joy about these housewifey details.
• Giselle's Shadiness Tactics: Ben breaks down Giselle’s style—she tests newbies with shade and rewards those who play along, but withdraws from those who can’t keep up, i.e., Angel.
  • Ben: “She’s trying to throw some shade that I can't believe Tima wouldn't want to hang out with us… Clearly Angel's trigger is being called a catfish or inauthentic or duplicitous.” (31:53)

Angel’s Colorado Retreat & Living Situation Drama (33:37–36:45)

• Angel Retreats to Colorado: Angel claims Colorado is her "safe, sacred space"—the hosts mock her for taking credit for building an entire state.
  • “You built Colorado? That's like a huge credit. Where’s your billboard?” – Ronnie (34:31)
• The Great Eviction Debate: Angel fiercely denies being evicted, but her explanation unravels under Ben and Ronnie’s analysis.
  • “She just doesn't want to admit they did something stupid so it's just… ‘the lease ended before we knew it was going to end.’” – Ben (36:00)
  • “The proof is in the pudding. They can kiss my ass with that eviction comment.” – Angel (35:14, paraphrased by Ben & Ronnie)

Ashley’s “6-to-60” Party & The Return of Uncle Lump (36:46–41:31)

• Party Premise: Ashley throws a simultaneous birthday for a 6-year-old and a 60-year-old (Uncle Lump).
  • “Guess who this is meaningful for? Neither of those people.” – Ben (37:13)
• Uncle Lump’s Wisdom Ignored: He dispenses sage advice that the family perpetually ignores.
  • “He gives good advice every single year and no one pays attention to him.” – Ben (37:44)
• Sheila’s Partner’s Rehab: Ashley’s mom gives updates on her longtime partner finally entering rehab, leading to a flashback of this saga stretching back nearly 8 years.

Monique’s Book Launch—“Love Letters from Versions of Myself” (41:32–51:08)

• Book Event Set-Up: Monique is excited for her new memoir about growth and healing; the hosts aren’t buying the “reinvention” talk.
  • “Writing love letters to yourself is weird, just masturbate like everyone else.” – Ronnie (41:50)
  • “Stop acting like you’re a totally different person.” – Ronnie (41:52)
• Angel’s Writer Credentials Scrutiny:
  • Angel tells Monique, “As a writer, I know how hard it is to stay dedicated and keep going with page after page of your book.”
  • The hosts dive into a Google and Amazon investigation of Angel’s alleged writing career, with much good-natured mockery and eventually the discovery she has written professionally (journalism, not books).

Quotes & Notable Moments:

• “As a writer, I know how hard it is to resist putting in a comma everywhere, but…” – Ben (49:13)
• “She lists her favorite song as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. So there you go. Don’t argue.” – Ronnie (51:08)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:21–04:51: Podcast transition and LA personal stories
• 06:13–08:43: Inflation and cream cheese outrage
• 08:44–10:11: Angel’s so-bad-it’s-good Housewives performance
• 11:19–12:52: Ambidextrous Arabella and school skipping stories
• 13:14–15:36: Kieran’s disappointing billboard moment
• 16:02–25:33: Tia’s emotional house revisiting and the banister tangent
• 25:54–33:36: Potomac ladies’ lunch, outfits, and group shadiness
• 33:37–36:45: Angel’s Colorado retreat and questionable eviction denial
• 36:46–41:31: Ashley’s party, Uncle Lump’s ignored wisdom, and family rehab updates
• 41:32–51:08: Monique’s awkward book launch, “versions of myself,” and Angel’s writer claims
• 51:08–51:36: Wrap-up and transition to part two

Episode Tone & Style

• Language: Candid, sarcastic, irreverent
• Dynamics: Rapid-fire banter, affectionate ribbing, observational humor, and Bravo expertise
• Memorable Running Gags: Outdated banisters; Angel's accidental comedy; “Evicted” cookbook; endless “versions” of oneself; Uncle Lump's thankless wisdom

Final Thoughts

Ben & Ronnie deliver another riotous, detail-packed recap of RHOP, deftly balancing heavy storylines with infectious humor. They mock housewife antics (“You built Colorado?”), dissect production quirks (banisters, rec centers), and apply their signature perspective to every facet of the episode—and each other's lives. Even for listeners who missed the show, their commentary provides a surprisingly thorough (albeit irreverent) account of the action, the real drama among the women, and the ongoing evolution of the Bravo universe.

Tune in for Part 2 for more Potomac shade, comedy, and deep dives into the RHOP madness!