Pop Therapy

Pop Therapy

By with Jana FirestoneSociety & Culture
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Pop Therapy episodes

  • Daryn Carp Spills Bravo FanFest Tea & Love Is Blind’s Rob Unravels

    Daryn Carp has the Bravo inside scoop. Rob has some explaining to do. And a few Love Is Blind couples may need more than a wedding planner.


    Fresh off the stage at Bravo FanFest Charleston, Daryn returns to Pop Therapy with backstage intel, Southern Charm’s questionable romantic prospects and a sprinkle-cookie grievance involving my close and personal friend Dorinda Medley. Plus RHONY, Potomac and The Golden Life - our Housewives agenda is extensive.


    Then we need to talk about Rob. The rage. The spiral. The ghosting. The friends with opinions (and drinks - many, many drinks). How did his connection with Michaela go from so promising to this? We unpack the meltdown, the missing explanations and the questions we need answered at the Love Is Blind reunion.


    Sarah and John have us believing. Blake and Erica have major questions about their future. Cam and Aneha have us wondering whether they’re even in the same relationship. And Wilson and Wilney? A yes at the altar wouldn’t settle our doubts.


    Who might actually make it - and who has the biggest hurdles beyond “I do”? We’re making our wedding and reunion predictions and having the conversations these couples cannot afford to postpone.


    Listen now and send this to your reality TV group chat. We have a lot to discuss.


    Want more Daryn? Obviously. Follow her on Instagram @carpedaryn and listen to After the Edit with Daryn Carp on Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.


    Connect with the show:

    IG: ⁠⁠⁠@jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone ⁠⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr 8 min
  • The Golden Life: Old Friends, Fresh Offences

    Lindsay Clancy questions, a career-best Robert Pattinson, and my close and personal friend Dorinda Medley’s return to television. We have things to discuss.


    First, a Lindsay Clancy case update and the circulating claims about her car being and its sale, shortly after the children’s deaths.


    Then, Primetime. Robert Pattinson had me gripped. The ethics had me squirming. I get into the ambition, approval and ugly compromises behind a To Catch a Predator-style ratings machine.


    Plus, The Golden Life delivers gloriously unrestrained RHONY nostalgia. The girls are back, the grievances have aged (un)gracefully, and Dorinda has taken to Threads. But Sonja has me wondering, where the entertainment ends and the concern begins.


    Join the conversation:

    IG: ⁠⁠@jana.firestone⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠@janafirestone ⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠


    38 min
  • Luann Unleashed, Teresa Redeemed & Next Gen NYC Exposed with Dana The Bravo Investigator

    My friend and friend of the show, Dana, The Bravo Investigator, is back and we're putting the Housewives under investigation. Some of them have a lot to answer for.


    From the gloriously unrestrained nostalgia of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip to Luann becoming an increasingly magnificent caricature of herself, Teresa Giudice's unexpected emotional evolution and Vicki Gunvalson looking like she'd rather be literally anywhere else, there's plenty to unpack.


    We get into The Real Housewives of New York, my ongoing Jessel Taank grievance, the Kennedy controversy, Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill, and the shifting friendships and marriages on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

    Then Dana brings the receipts on Next Gen NYC's Charlie Zakur and his reported links to the notorious NYC crypto torture house case.


    Plus, Dorinda Medley, Martha Stewart, Bravo's returning veterans and the million-dollar question: Does loving reality TV become endorsing the people behaving badly on it?


    Nostalgia, nepotism, questionable behaviour and a little psychological dissection. Just another day on Pop Therapy.


    You can find Dana at:

    IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Support this show and connect on socials at:

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    1 hr 6 min
  • MAFS' Katie on Sam Wood, Manipulation & the Red Flags We Miss

    Content warning: This episode discusses domestic and family violence, emotional abuse and mental health.


    Married at First Sight Australia bride Katie joins me on Pop Therapy for a revealing conversation about gaslighting, emotional abuse, toxic relationships and life after MAFS. From her own experience of public rejection and manipulation to building a community that empowers women to recognise red flags and reclaim their self-worth, Katie has plenty to say about the behaviours we excuse, the boundaries we struggle to hold and why it's so difficult to see people for who they really are.


    Katie came ready to challenge some uncomfortable truths, and she certainly challenged me. Her perspective on manipulation and the stories we tell ourselves about other people's behaviour, sparked a frank and thought-provoking conversation.


    Having wrestled with my own discomfort around the allegations against former The Bachelor star Sam Wood, someone I thought I knew, Katie gave me plenty of food for thought. Why do we overlook red flags? How do we reconcile the version we've been shown with a very different reality? And how might this explain Sam's continued social following?


    From reality TV and public personas to emotional resilience, healing and finding your voice, this is an honest conversation about the things we don't always want to confront.


    Listen to Pop Therapy wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.


    Connect with Katie
    Instagram: @itswildbykatie

    Website: www.itswildbykatie.com


    Connect with Pop Therapy
    Instagram: @jana.firestone
    TikTok: @janafirestone
    YouTube: Pop Therapy Podcast
    Website: www.janafirestone.com


    Domestic & Family Violence Support - Australia

    1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au

    Safe Steps (Victoria): 1800 015 188 | safesteps.org.au

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

    MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 | mensline.org.au

    If you're in immediate danger, call 000.

    1 hr 21 min
  • Sam Wood: What Happens When It’s the Good Guy?

    TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses domestic and family violence, including allegations of physical assault and strangulation.


    Today, I’m talking about the recent arrest and charges against former The Bachelor star and 28 by Sam Wood founder Sam Wood - someone I know personally and who was an early guest on this podcast.


    This is a tough one. It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but precisely because of that - it's an important one. Because our perception or connection to someone in the spotlight, can complicate talking about the unthinkable.

    We unpack the danger of assuming we know what an alleged abuser “looks like”, why our instinct to search for context can sometimes minimise what’s in front of us, and why speaking about these issues matters - particularly for those who may not feel safe or able to use their own voice.


    Then, Kim Kardashian says she and Kanye West are trying to “hold back” 13-year-old North West from fame. But when North already has extraordinary fame, access and exposure, what does “holding her back” actually mean? This digs into fame, identity and the responsibility of raising a child in the spotlight.


    Join the conversation:

    IG: ⁠⁠@jana.firestone⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠@janafirestone ⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠


    Support Services:

    If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:

    1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit ⁠⁠1800respect.org.au⁠⁠ for domestic, family and sexual violence support.

    Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit ⁠⁠lifeline.org.au⁠⁠ for crisis support.

    13YARN: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support on 13 92 76.

    MensLine Australia: Support for men experiencing or using family violence on 1300 78 99 78.

    If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).


    The charges against Sam Wood are allegations and have not been proven. The matter is before the courts.

    36 min
  • Lindsay Clancy, KJ Biermann & RHONY’s Jessel vs. the Kennedys

    This week on Pop Therapy, I unpack the questions still troubling me about Lindsay Clancy, Reddington's moves and intentions for the next imminent court date, and the online debates surrounding this deeply complex case. I also discuss the disturbing allegations against Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s son, KJ, and the family fallout playing out publicly.


    Then, we’re back in Bravo territory: Real Housewives of New York, Jessel Taank testing my patience and the OG Housewives reminding us why we fell in love with this world in the first place. There’s plenty to discuss.


    Join the conversation:

    IG: ⁠@jana.firestone⁠

    TikTok: ⁠@janafirestone ⁠

    Website: ⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠


    Support Services:

    If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:

    1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit ⁠1800respect.org.au⁠ for domestic, family and sexual violence support.

    Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit ⁠lifeline.org.au⁠ for crisis support.

    13YARN: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support on 13 92 76.

    MensLine Australia: Support for men experiencing or using family violence on 1300 78 99 78.

    If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).


    43 min
  • Patrick Clancy’s 60 Minutes Interview: Rachel Danis, Public Backlash and What Was Left Out

    Patrick Clancy has spoken out following the mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case - and his 60 Minutes interview has done little to help him escape the public scrutiny.


    In this solo episode, I get into what Patrick said about Lindsay’s mental-health decline, losing Cora, Dawson and Callan, forgiving Lindsay and rebuilding his life with his new wife, Dr Rachel Danis.


    I also get into the interview’s most uncomfortable questions, the fierce public reaction and the revealing clips 60 Minutes promoted - then left out of the final broadcast.


    Why were these moments cut? Did the interview humanise Patrick - or only deepen the public’s suspicions? And are we analysing actual evidence, or deciding what grief should look and sound like?


    From the editing choices to the body-language commentary and unanswered questions still surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, there is a lot to unpack.


    Content warning: This episode discusses the deaths of children, suicide, self-harm and postpartum mental illness. Please listen with care.

    Join the conversation:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jana.firestone/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janafirestone
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@poptherapypodcast
    Website: https://www.janafirestone.com/


    Support is available:

    Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/
    PANDA National Helpline: Call 1300 726 306 or visit https://www.panda.org.au/
    Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

    If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

    43 min
  • Breaking the Silence: Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph on Domestic Violence

    In this deeply personal episode, Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph of Below Deck Down Under, returns to Pop Therapy for a raw conversation about domestic violence, shame and the complicated reality of leaving an abusive relationship.


    With the Below Deck franchise facing renewed scrutiny following serious legal developments involving Below Deck Mediterranean’s Nathan Gallagher, Tzarina explains why sharing her own experience feels especially important - and how breaking her silence might help other women find their voice.


    Together, we explore why leaving is rarely as simple as walking away, the importance of compassionate support and the courage it takes to speak publicly.


    A confronting but vital conversation about survival, resilience and breaking the silence.


    Watch in full on YouTube at @poptherapypodcast

    You can follow Chef Tzarina on IG:@cheftzarina


    Follow the show on socials:

    IG: @jana.firestone

    TikTok: @janafirestone

    Website: www.janafirestone.com


    Support Services:

    If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:

    1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au for domestic, family and sexual violence support.

    Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au for crisis support.

    13YARN: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support on 13 92 76.

    MensLine Australia: Support for men experiencing or using family violence on 1300 78 99 78.

    If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).



    55 min
  • Lindsay Clancy: Too Many Questions, Not Enough Answers

    This is a very different kind of solo episode for me. I’m stepping away from my usual pop-culture conversations to talk about the Lindsay Clancy case and the devastating deaths of her three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan.


    As a therapist who has worked extensively with grief and trauma, I wanted to look at Lindsay’s reported deteriorating mental health and the deeply fragmented care she received. But the question at the heart of this case isn’t just whether Lindsay was mentally unwell. It’s also: what actually happened inside that house? And what is at the heart of the uprising of women of the world, rallying around Lindsay Clancy, gripped by this case.


    Following the mistrial, I’m unpacking the details I still can’t reconcile - the incredibly narrow timeline, Patrick Clancy’s movements, Lindsay’s catastrophic injuries and hypothermia, ICU delirium and gaping holes in the evidence.

    I am not claiming to know what happened. But reasonable doubt does not require us to solve the case - it requires us to ask whether the evidence was investigated thoroughly enough.

    Content warning: This episode discusses the deaths of children, suicide, self-harm, postpartum/postnatal mental health and homicide. Please listen with care.

    Support is available

    If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 000.

    Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or access online chat 24/7 at lifeline.org.au.

    PANDA National Helpline: Call 1300 726 306 for free support during pregnancy and early parenthood. Visit panda.org.au. PANDA is not a crisis service.

    Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or access free online counselling 24/7 at beyondblue.org.au.


    Join the conversation online:

    IG: @jana.firestone

    YouTube: @poptherapypodcast

    TikTok: @janafirestone

    Website: www.janafirestone.com

    1 hr 6 min
  • Hayu, Housewives & Hollywood: Jus Hill Tells All

    This week's guest has spent 20 years in the entertainment industry, which means he has interviewed everyone from genuine Hollywood A-listers to reality TV royalty - and, crucially, has lived to tell the tale.


    Justin Hill is one of those people who has been behind the microphone, on the red carpet and in the room for some of the biggest celebrity moments - and after meeting in person at Hayu FanFest, I knew I needed to get him on Pop Therapy and start asking questions. Immediately.


    And this episode is SO much fun.


    We get into the absolute love fest that was Hayu FanFest - the Housewives, the Bravolebs, the behind-the-scenes moments and why the whole thing somehow felt like the world’s most glamorous family reunion.


    And then we open the celebrity interview vault.


    After two decades of interviewing some of the biggest names in entertainment, Jus has stories. We talk about the interviews he’ll never forget, the celebrities who completely surprised him, the ones who were even better than you’d hope… and, naturally, the ones that did not go according to plan.


    Because what happens when you finally meet someone you’ve watched on screen for years - and they’re absolutely delightful? And what happens when they’re… not?


    This is celebrity culture from someone who has actually been in the room for twenty years.


    Jus Hill is on Pop Therapy. Let’s get into it.


    Follow Jus at:

    IG: @jus_hill

    Podcast: Justin Hill Plus One


    Follow the show at:

    IG: @jana.firestone

    TikTok: @janafirestone

    YouTube: Pop Therapy Podcast

    www.janafirestone.com


    1 hr 6 min

About Pop Therapy

From the publisher's feed

Jana Firestone is a therapist of 20 years, twice published author, and unapologetic pop-culture obsessive. Jana is a therapist, whose own therapy is pop culture and reality TV.

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