Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre
Comedian & pop culture critic Jolenta Greenberg has a theory: reality TV isn’t ruining culture - it is culture. Join her and a cast of sharp, funny guests as they dig into the details behind the drama and unpack why we can’t get enough of those iconic scenes and unforgettable characters. This is the place for highbrow conversations about “lowbrow” TV All seasons By the Book & How to Be Fine are also in this feed. To hear back episodes, just scroll down!
Episodes
January 1, 2026 • 28 mins
Ring in the new year the classic way - with hot takes on hot topics. For a New Year’s treat, Jolenta is serving takes hot enough to warm your heart on a cold winter’s day. All things reality are discussed, from Southern Charm to Sister Wives.
Hot Mess-terpiece Insta
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December 25, 2025 • 34 mins
As a holiday gift to you, Jolenta returns to her podcasting roots with a deep dive on a self-help book. She read Rich As F*ck, so you don’t have to - the money manifesting manual by the newest Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, Amanda Frances. Does the book offer any genuinely useful advice? Does it give scam vibes the same way Amanda does on TV? Let’s find out!
Hot Mess-terpiece Insta
SOURCES:
The Real Housewives of Beverl...
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December 18, 2025 • 37 mins
Jolenta does a deep dive on The Recluse archetype and her evil twin, The Warlock. Turns out Kathy Hilton from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has a lot of reclusive tendencies, but watch yourself because you don’t want her warlock side to rear its ugly head.
Hot Mess-terpiece Insta
SOURCES:
Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece, by Stephen Fry
Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes Brought to Life, By Robert ...
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December 11, 2025 • 77 mins
Jolenta is joined by Travis Rhoden from Bestie Approved for a crossover episode! In honor of Jen Shah being released from prison, the two recap the infamous sprinter van raid from season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Travis used to be a finance bro, so he has some interesting takes on money laundering. And many iconic moments are covered: Mary calling Whitney “little girl,” the beginning of Meredith branding herself ...
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December 4, 2025 • 70 mins
Jolenta is joined by the wonderful Gibson Johns (Gabbing with Gib) to talk about Aviva Drescher’s infamous leg toss from The Real Housewives of New York. They get into the backstory, dish on ghost writing rumors, and wax poetic about obviously self produced moments.
Gibson’s Insta
Hot Mess-Terpiece Insta
SOURCES
RHONY Legacy - Peacock
Luann de Lesseps Doubles Down: Carole Radziwill Used a Ghostwriter for Her Memoir ...
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November 27, 2025 • 39 mins
For a Thanksgiving Day treat, Jolenta is doing a roundup of some of the latest reality TV hot topics and giving her hot takes. She covers everything from Kandi Burruss’s divorce to Kody Brown’s multiple divorces. Please note: Topics other than divorce will be discussed, such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, The Real Housewives of Orange County, and more.
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SOUR...
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November 20, 2025 • 40 mins
The Mystic is a fun woo-woo archetype, but do not piss her off or else you’ll meet her evil side: the Betrayer. How do each of these beauties show up in reality TV? Jolenta thinks Dorinda Medley from the Real Housewives of New York is the perfect example of the Mystic/Betrayer dichotomy.
Hot Mess-terpiece Insta
SOURCES:
Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece, by Stephen Fry
Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes...
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November 13, 2025 • 60 mins
The wonderful Mary Payne Gilbert (Pink Shade) joins Jolenta to do a deep dive on the infamous Vanderpump Rules “slap” scene between Stassi Schroeder and Kristin Douse. And the two discuss why we’re so drawn to reality TV that showcases anti-aspirational living.
Mary Payne’s Insta
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Sources:
Vanderpump Rules - Peacock
Hera episode of Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre
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November 6, 2025 • 37 mins
She’s intense, she’s driven, and she might be here to save us all… or burn it all down. This week Jolenta draws parallels between the Savior/Destroyer archetype and Heather Gay’s journey on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
*This episode mentions the struggles faced by LGBTQIA+ youth - if you or anyone you know is struggling text ‘START’ to 678-678 to reach The Tre...
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October 30, 2025 • 62 mins
Comedian Anna Roisman (Big Wigs) joins the show to talk about her favorite moments from Love is Blind season six: when Chelsea told Jimmy she gets told she looks like Megan Fox & when Jimmy realizes that may not be true. Anna and Jolenta breakdown the scenes and discuss why you shouldn’t try to break the unspoken rules of a reality show.
Anna's Insta - where all her great impressions are
Hot Mess-terpiece Insta
Jolenta's Insta
...
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October 23, 2025 • 42 mins
Jolenta looks into the Maiden and Troubled Teen archetypes. And she does a deep dive on a Real Housewife that seems to embody this angsty ingénue: Bronwyn from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Insta
Jolenta’s Insta
SOURCES
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton
Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes Brought to Live, By Robert Garland
The Greek Myths, by Robert Gra...
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October 16, 2025 • 54 mins
Jolenta is joined by Nicole Spiezio (How Were U Brainwashed?) to discuss a pivotal RHONY Legacy scene - the scene where Bethenny tells Luann her fiancé cheated on her "at the Regency, in front of everybody.”
Nicole’s Podcast
Housewife Sonata w/ Nicole Spiezio
Hot Mess-terpiece Theatre Insta
SOURCES
- Real Housewives of New York City, Peacock
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October 9, 2025 • 41 mins
Let’s do a deep dive on the Muse archetype, and her flirty evil twin the Femme Fatale. Parvati Shallow is the perfect example of both - and Jolenta has compiled some of Parv’s most seductive and cut-throat moments for your listening pleasure.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
SOURCES
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton
Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes Brought to Life, ...
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October 2, 2025 • 62 mins
Jolenta is joined by Amye Archer (Little Miss Recap) to discuss the explosive season 18 fight between Janelle and Kody Brown on Sister Wives. The two discuss breaking the 4th wall and narcissistic collapse, and Amye gives a stern warning for anyone who’s watching the new season of Sister Wives.
Amye’s Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
Hot Mess-terpiece Theatre Instagram
Sources
Sister Wives, TLC
Sister Wife: A Memoir o...
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September 25, 2025 • 35 mins
Jolenta does a realty TV deep dive on the Amazon archetype and her evil alter ego, the Gorgon. And she explores how Bethenny Frankel lives her life Amazon style with some wild Gorgon flare.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
SOURCES
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton
Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes Brought to Life, By Robert Garland
The Penguin Dictionary of Clas...
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September 18, 2025 • 66 mins
Jolenta is joined by Sarah Galli (Andy's Girls) to discuss the heartbreaking dissolution of the friendship between Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill from the original Real Housewives of New York. Whose side were you on?
Sarah’s Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
Hot Mess-terpiece Theatre Instagram
SOURCES
Carole’s blog post: https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/season-10/blogs/carole-radziwill/c...
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September 11, 2025 • 41 mins
Jolenta tries to make sense of what we’re seeing play out with Jenn Pedranti this season on The Real Housewives of Orange County. This leads to a deep dive on The Father’s Daughter archetype and her evil alter ego, The Backstabber.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
SOURCES
The Greek Myths, by Robert Graves
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton
The Penguin Dictionary...
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September 4, 2025 • 55 mins
Jolenta is joined by Eric Williams (That’s a Gay Ass Podcast) to talk about one of his favorite scenes from the original Real Housewives of New York. Is life really a cabaret if your boyfriend doesn’t get a ticket to the show?
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Eric’s Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
SOURCES
'Real Housewives' star Luann de Lesseps arrested in Palm Beach - https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/real-housew...
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August 28, 2025 • 34 mins
Is she nurturing or over-controlling? When it comes to moms, it can be hard to tell. This week Jolenta looks at how mothers show up in The Real Housewives and Sister Wives.
Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre Instagram
Jolenta’s Instagram
SOURCES:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton
The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology, by Pierre Grimal
The Greek Myths, by Robert Graves
Mythos: A R...
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August 21, 2025 • 59 mins
Jolenta is joined by comedy writer Chelsea Devantez (Glamorous Trash) to discuss the beautifully layered confrontation between Jessica and Amber on season 1 of Love is Blind.
More Chelsea - @chelseadevantez
More Jolenta - @jolenta_g
SOURCES:
Love is Blind on Netflix
Love Is Blind Season 1 Couples: Where Are They Now? - https://people.com/love-is-blind-season-1-couples-where-are-they-now-11678724
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