People are Messy...an informed look at reality TV with Dr. Taylor

This episode covers Tom's reactions to Rachel's podcast revelations. We discuss grief triggers as well as frontstage/backstage (Goffman) behaviors. Lala's selection party finally happens, and we learn that she needs more consistent communication (words of affirmation) because that seems to be her love language.

Dr. Adam, The Sister Wives Professor, joins Dr. Taylor to discuss the 12th episode of Vanderpump Rules from season 11. They try to tackle the question, "What is Vanderpump Rules?"

The Sister Wives Professor podcast

Our parasocial friends finish up their intense, conflict-filled beach day. Schwartz and Katie date the same girl. Jo wants to be friends with everyone and also date Schwartz. And Ariana’s friends still don’t quite understand why she won’t abandon the house that she poured her soul into.

In this episode, we see Ann get interviewed for Ariana’s assistant..and then get fired (maybe?) for being interviewed. We see some of the crew still talking about Katie and Max -- a topic they only knew about because of Scheana’s interest in tracking locations. There’s a water tasting, and then a beach day that ended, as they usually do, in a lot of drama and a “to be continued” placard.

In this episode, we find out that Schwartz and Scheana made out years ago while Schwartz and Katie were dating. We spend some time at Hotel Ziggy with the VPR crew. And then we find out that Scheana is very snoopy about checking people’s locations and figures out that Katie slept with Max, a good friend of Schwartz.

Grey rocking

Lala and Katie talked through their conflict. Tom had a pool party. Ariana and Scheana work through their current friendship challenges. The whole gang ended up at a bar. Then Jax showed up.

Everyone is back from Tahoe still trying to figure out how to move forward with Tom without making Ariana angry at them. Scheana is sad about not being on Dancing with the Stars and doesn’t understand why Ariana doesn’t support her loss of friendship with Sandoval. Lala tries to explain her experience in a tough situation, which doesn’t go so

The VPR crew continues their vacation in Tahoe while Katie and Ariana stay back in LA. We witness dialectic tensions, discuss the distinction between love, hate, and indifference, learn to comfort in and dump out, and touch on communication privacy management.

Ring Theory

CPM basics

Dialectics

This episode was chock full of interpersonal concepts. We discuss relational maintenance, facework, power dynamics, setting boundaries, conflict management, apology, and the grave-dressing phase of a breakup.

Things I mentioned:

Whitney Port's reaction videos to The Hills

UnREAL television show

In this episode, the Vanderpump Rules gang is starting to experience the duality of emotions -- that two feelings can exist at the same time. Dr. Taylor also discusses masking and why we seem to hurt the one(s) we love the most.