Avantika Vandanapu on Mean Girls, Mindy Kaling & Taking Up Space

Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything to everyone, and why do we get so disappointed when the people in our lives don't show up exactly the way we expect them to? In this episode of Tommy Talk, Tommy opens up about the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves and others, the guilt that comes with not always being able to show up for the people we love, and how these pressures can create unnecessary stress, disappointment, and resentment in our relationships. From missing family gatherings and struggling to balance busy schedules to feeling frustrated when others don't do things the way we would, Tommy explores why we can be so quick to judge without considering what someone else might be going through. He reflects on the importance of recognizing that everyone has different capacities, different ways of showing love, and different ways of navigating life. Just because someone doesn't call as often, miss a special occasion, or show up on our timeline doesn't necessarily mean they care any less. So how do we learn to communicate our needs instead of expecting others to read our minds? How do we distinguish between relationships that genuinely aren't serving us and the everyday imperfections that require a little more understanding? And how do we stop holding ourselves to impossible standards? Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before. Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network Producers: Andrew Pugliese, Stephanie Lane, Josh Kolodny Follow us on socials! Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore YouTube: @NeverSaidThisBefore See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather Dubrow (of Real Housewives of Orange County) comes on to share her hot takes! Will she survive this round of rapid fire questions the fans have been wanting the answers to? And after listening to this, check out the full interview with Heather that dropped earlier this week (the episode prior to this one)! Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network Producers: Andrew Pugliese, Stephanie Lane, Josh Kolodny Follow us on socials! Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore YouTube: @NeverSaidThisBefore See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tommy is joined by reality TV royalty Heather Dubrow, who has been a fixture on The Real Housewives of Orange County for 10 seasons. In this episode, Heather gets candid about what made this season especially difficult, why returning to RHOC felt different after leaving the show, and why she believes her OG franchise is the best. She opens up about why she feels some of the women are always waiting for her to fall, the moment she had to immediately shut down a comment made this season to protect her husband, and what she does when DMs land in her inbox containing potentially life-altering dirt on other cast members. Heather also reveals the one thing she’s protective of showing on camera, which past-season fights she can finally laugh about after some time, and what she really wants to set the record straight about when it comes to “Paparazzi-Gate.” Plus, she shares why she will forever be a champion for the LGBTQ+ community, how her perspective on aging has shifted as she’s gotten older, why she’s giving fewer F’s as the years go by, and so much more! And don’t miss Heather's rapid-fire “Hot Takes & Hangouts” interview, our part 2 to this conversation where she’s answering burning fan questions, dropping Thursday, October 22! Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before. Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network Producers: Andrew Pugliese, Stephanie Lane, Josh Kolodny Follow us on socials! Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore YouTube: @NeverSaidThisBefore See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the happiness you’ve been chasing is already waiting for you in the life you’re living right now? In this episode of Tommy Talk, Tommy explores why we keep putting happiness on hold, waiting to be happy until something “big” happens. Why do we convince ourselves we’ll finally feel fulfilled when we get the promotion, find the relationship, achieve the goal, or reach the next big milestone? What happens when we become so focused on building the life we want that we forget to enjoy the life we already have? After turning 40 earlier this year, Tommy shares his own journey toward living more presently, finding joy in the seemingly ordinary moments, and breaking the cycle of constantly worrying about what comes next. He also explores why gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring life’s struggles, why we need to stop overlooking the little things that make life meaningful, and how learning to appreciate the present can change the way we experience our lives. Because one day we might look back and realize that the moments we were rushing through were the moments that mattered most. Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before. Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network Producers: Andrew Pugliese, Stephanie Lane, Josh Kolodny Follow us on socials! Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore YouTube: @NeverSaidThisBefore See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marina Squerciati (of Chicago P.D.) comes on to share her hot takes! Will she survive this round of rapid fire questions the fans have been wanting the answers to? And after listening to this, check out the full interview with Marina that dropped earlier this week (the episode prior to this one)! Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network Producers: Andrew Pugliese, Stephanie Lane Follow us on socials! Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore YouTube: @NeverSaidThisBefore See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.