Scheananigans with Scheana Shay - Unfiltered Work Drama with CNN’s S.E. Cupp

Episode Date: June 16, 2023

This week, Scheana is joined in NYC by political commentator and Bravo connoisseur, S.E. Cupp, host of CNN’s “ S.E. Cupp Unfiltered,” plus Scheana’s husband Brock jumps in to address those Rachel rumors. Why does S.E. feel that this season of VPR was a “masterpiece of television?” What moment from the Reunion made her cry? And who does she think should come back next season?   Scheana and S.E. bond over their mutual workplace drama playing out in the media. S.E. reacts to her CNN boss’ very public exit from the network. Why wasn’t she shocked? What went wrong during his tenure? Who should take the reins now? Plus, Scheana gets candid about the state of her mental health post-Scandoval. Tune in to find out!   Follow us: @scheana @scheananigans    Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.   Go to www.factormeals.com/teamariana50 to get 50% off your first box   Go to www.factormeals.com/teamariana50 to get 50% off your first box   Go to www.visible.com/SAGE to learn more about the campaign and watch “No Straight Answers” on Visible’s Instagram and Tiktok   Go to www.takecareof.com and enter code brock50 for 50% off Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. From Vanderpump Rules to motherhood and everywhere in between, it's time to catch up with Sheena Shea. This is Shenanigans. And now here's your host, Sheena Shea. Because we're good as gold. Because we're good as gold. Because we're good as gold. Because we're good as gold. I gotta tell you I'm feeling good right now so running a little late thought i'd catch up with my hubby since we didn't get his thoughts on part three of the reunion and the rachel of it all did they get your thoughts on part three because we just watched it last night i know well we're gonna get into that with se when she gets here i want to hear a little bit about what you thought. Oh, I mean, I felt it's so crazy that these guys in there, however, they thought the scenario out, right?

I'm new to this group. I've said this multiple times, but how do they think that this was okay at any point in time to just apparently do this? Just normal people do this just normal people do this then know that we have a tv crew following us around for our for a whole summer yeah it's why it just baffles me and now it gets to a point where like okay everyone obviously everyone loves to have an opinion on things too but after watching episode three it's wild the fact that they you know it's the first time we see Raquel get upset emotional yeah okay and finally finally and then and then it's the first time she tries to tell the truth which was then also limited by we would not like to disclose certain things it was only the truth

that they wanted to express the fans in the audience the fans want the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me god okay and i feel like that's their only way out of this rut that they've put themselves in because i i do see well we're hearing rumors that they're not together now yeah i have no idea honestly so then you blew your world up for what? Exactly. For what? And we loved these guys. It's this whole situation that they put themselves into now. The only way out for redemption, and this is just me clinging to the end of it, is like, tell the truth, the whole truth.

I just said it. Yeah. But you still couldn't even do that. And what made her upset wasn't the friendships that she lost. It wasn't the friendships that she lost it wasn't anything else it was the fact that she had to lie which is the only time i've seen her in all three episodes show any emotion yeah it was because she didn't like being deceitful or having to physically lie she liked being deceitful because when she was meant to be in court

where was she in tom sandoval's bed okay so So she knew what was going on, but when she had to pay the piper, when that came due, that was what hurt her more than your guys' friendships, more than anybody else's friendships. It was the only time I saw her get upset. I mean, that was because she had to lie. That's what made her upset. I mean, look, I don't want to beat down on a dead horse or beat down on somebody that's down,

but they just do it to themselves. Yeah. And so how do you feel about it? I mean, it was a lot, you know? Just watching all of that, hearing her truth, but it's not even the complete truth. It just, yeah. I got a question. I know everybody's asking you uh has asked us like what next question is always going to come up and it's going to be the hottest topic of the summer right what do you see for your friendships with everybody

in the group how do you see summer? What does your summer look like? I was like, summer? Well, I thought it looks like you. It looks like us. I honestly, I do not know. I have no clue where we go from here. I don't know who comes back from here. I honestly don't know.

So that's just going to be a time we'll tell, wait and see sort of thing. The tell-all at the end wasn't even a tell-all. It was a tell partial truth. It was a little bit, but. The people wanted to know the truth and you sit there and you cry and you say, you're going to tell the truth and then you leave parts out. And then that was also only her side. It wasn't sandoval's well that's not gonna we're not gonna get that i know anyway and if we did that's all the world wanted but instead he went on howie

mandel and just decided to chat to someone that didn't even know who he or her or anybody was yeah he said who is sheena dick what a dick miss michaela jane said i would love to hear brock address those stupid rumors that he and rochelle hooked up well fun fact never happened and honestly it was really upsetting because we had friends of ours reach out to us, to Sheena, to check in. And I appreciate the friend check-in. I do. And I understand the world and the lay of the landscape that we're in. But the truth is there was no truth to it. The reason why I was so protective and why Sheena and I both fought for Sheena,

why we both fought for Raquel, Rachel, is because we saw somebody that was innocent like the whole everybody else and we saw this somebody that got talked over by by james somebody that was just kind of in her shell and we all saw that so we wanted to support her and however way okay you moved out of james house let me help you move out i was the first one over there moving around you were the only person it was you and her dad. Exactly. No one else. So we moved her out of the house. We gave her a place to live.

And so the fire emoji, which was like hot topic. That's literally the next question from AU Megs underscore. Why did Brock put heart eye emojis, which I think they meant fire emojis, under Raquel's post and did it bother you? And just to answer that part, it did not bother me. I literally just like two weeks ago commented fire emojis on one of James's posts. And I feel like when you talk to somebody through emojis, like you're actually not having a real conversation with that person. Yeah.

It's effortless. It's a tap, tap, tap, boom. Yeah. You know, or a double wipe. And it was a good photo. She looked great in the photo. She looked hot. And it had nothing to do with me wanting to hit on her.

Okay. It was me trying to fluff her feathers, which is what I do as a person. I prefer to lift people up than tear them down. So I always saw her as somebody that needed that support. I see. And I, and I did, and I gave that to her up to the point where we ended up having this, this coming out and then how she, even how she handled the following days and the weeks and then how it affected our life, how it affected you,

how it affected our child. That was it for me. I'm all forgiven because everyone deserves their second chance. But that part and all of it and how it affected you and Summer, that was it for me. And that means like at that point i don't care you can't you shan but yeah rumors are false the fact that they came around there is a big problem with social media there is a big big problem yeah they can say anything and then some people are going to believe it that's the problem and that's it and and you guys never had this 10 years ago this wasn't the case with social media and the impact that you guys have.

Not as much. No way. And I think this was just like a vortex of everything, a combination of your show, your audience, social media, which took it to another level and allowed for a lot of things to be said that aren't true. And that's hurtful for the person that gets said to them. Oh, this is true. This is.

And then the person has to then defend themselves. So for that, I just shut up. Shut up. I spoke about it here. And because to be honest, I do say it's smart because when I do interviews, when I let the mouth go, I'm not trained. We know.

We're aware. I just get on there and just speak how I feel. And sometimes I'm wrong. Yeah. And saying things I'm wrong too. Wow. He's admitting here on shenanigans that sometimes he's wrong. Guys, like a 99% chance I'm wrong, but I'm going to try.

And if I'm, yeah, I'll try. Yeah. But also the way you responded to that, it's like if you think back to several episodes ago when Jeremiah asked Tom if anything was ever physical between them, he's like, no, like never. And it's just like kept going.

It's like, you just say, no, that never happened. That's a real response. So it was just so obvious even then. Had we not known, there would have been so many moments this season that we've seen now over 18 episodes that you would have been like that's off there's something no that's not right the way he said that you know so it's like I feel like it all was coming out regardless it just the way it did I said this before I'll say again. I think that as hard as it was for Ariana in that moment,

that's how it needed to come out because look at her now. She would have never left. She would have stayed. She loved him. She was his number one supporter and fan, and she would have stayed. When we went to the For Your Considerate Awards. The Emmy event, yeah

That was one of the topics that everyone was there Was bringing up and it was like It was the underdog It was the kind person, the good person Because to be on your show I know your heart and I know you get walked over Because you are forgiving You just want to make everyone okay

And that's not okay in this world where you need to have an opinion and you need to stand your ground. And so I think this was a win for the fans and the good people out there. The good ones finally rallied together and they stuck it to the dicks. Yeah, I don't know how you're going to make that a meme, but there we go. But they came together. And I think that was really cool to see in today's culture, the rallying of the troops behind one person, Ariana.

They put her up there and they said, we've got you. And that was, I think that's like the highlight of all of that. And it gave her the confidence to remind herself. Obviously heartbreaking and everything's in there. But with that much love and support, I know for a fact it changed how she handled the situation, how she walked through that, rose from the ashes like a bloody phoenix. Yeah.

Totally. So pumped. And everyone that supported her, everyone that got on that bandwagon, thank you. Yeah. Thank you, guys. No, absolutely. Ariana is thriving.

I couldn't be happier for her, but I think it all did need to happen the way that it did, absolutely. Ariana is thriving. I couldn't be happier for her, but I think it all did need to happen the way that it did. Unfortunately. I mean, I would prefer it not to have happened for seven months. Well, of course, I would prefer for it not to happen at all, but I'm saying that happened, meaning how it came out. I think it needed to happen that way. Yeah.

In order for this to be the outcome for Ariana. They fucked on out. They were getting after it at our wedding our whole wedding the whole summer they they never stopped like now i kind of want to now because we we watched it through we're like oh okay they made out let's see that was what made this season so iconic i think for the fans to watch was the double meaning on everything because they get through the whole summer like oh we gotta wait with it we did it yeah no one knew right you no one knew the parents of tom tom you

slinging a song your phone drops out of your pocket bang bloody hell bloody hell crikey's mate that is he Oh, so as you mentioned, we were just at the FYC Emmy event. You know, fingers crossed we get nominated and double fingers crossed we actually win. So when we were at this Emmy event, we got there, we were the surprise guests who showed up to the after party on this rooftop.

But I was so bummed that we missed the Q&A. So Essie Kopp, who is going to be here soon. She's a political commentator. Bravo super fan. I've done Watch What Happens Live with her. She's so awesome. Kristen's done Watch What Happens Live with her a couple times. She's done Kristen's podcast.

She's fantastic. She hosted the Q&A with Alex Baskin and Lisa Vanderpump for the Emmy consideration. Oh, so we can ask her all the goss. Yeah, I was so bummed that we didn't get to be there for that part, but they didn't want anyone to see us because we were the surprise guests for the after party. But that's how we just recently reconnected. And I was like, yo, we got to get into some shenanigans. So SE is about to be here.

We're going to take a quick little break and we'll be right back. Woohoo! Yes, yes, it's that time of the show when I remind you to eat well, especially now that it's summer. You might be looking for wholesome, convenient meals for sunny, active days like I am. But you also might be looking to just grab a smoothie out of the fridge and take it to go. I mean, that has been my go-to breakfast with factor meals delivered straight to my door. Meals ready in just two minutes. Smoothies ready instantly.

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but also through the power of connections and fostering community. So that's why this Pride Month, Visible is launching the hilarious 70s theme game show, No Straight Answers. I'm obsessed with all things 70s, the music, the style, all of it. This is going to be bringing Gen Z contestants and LGBTQ plus icons together to support SAGE. S-A-G-E. That is a nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ plus elders. This is a spirited game that uplifts the LGBTQ plus history, fosters intergenerational connection, and celebrates those who paved the way for pride to become what it is today. Because look at how far we have come. No Straight Answers is hosted by the actor and comedian Benny Drama. If you don't know him, you need to. And it features talented LGBTQ plus creators like The Old Gaze, Jared Goldstein, and Kendall Landreth. So I'm telling

you guys, this is something you need to check out. Go visit visible.com slash sage, that's S-A-G-E, to learn more about the campaign and watch No Straight Answers on Visible's Instagram and TikTok. You can also test your own pride knowledge all throughout the month by following along with trivia and quizzes on Visible's Instagram. Don't miss out. Lots of fun. Okay, so for my long time shenanigans listeners here, I'm going to take you back and I'm going to take you back to Care Of, which is a subscription service that ships high quality, personalized vitamins,

supplements, and powders conveniently to your door every month. So let me tell you about this. You go online, you take a fun little quiz. I mean, honestly, I love doing quizzes. It takes me back to just when I was younger, whether it was like a Cosmo magazine or just a fun quiz that wasn't one in school. You know, this is one of those fun quizzes. So it's basically a short, in-depth quiz about your lifestyle and health goals for a personalized doctor-backed recommendation. And the quiz can be taken and retaken at any time to switch up your packs as your lifestyle

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because y'all taking your vitamins is very important. I take my hair vitamins. I take my DHA. I take my vitamin D. I take iron supplements when I need to. I've definitely switched up my vitamin routine with their fun little quiz. So right now for my shenanigans listeners, you can get 50% off your first care of order. Just go to takecareof.com and enter code Brock50. Again, for 50% off your first care of order, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter code Brock50. Podcast is heading back in time. For the first time ever, we're diving into an iconic season from the past. And what better place to start than, say it with me, Free Agents!

It's a fan favorite and has so many iconic rivalries like Bananas vs. Jordan Laurel vs. Cara oh and also you and I were both on it don't forget Tamera the wig oh R.I.P. girl I know

we'll be joined by legendary cast members from the season and we'll go behind the scenes with them for the first time ever plus hear what they've been doing

since the show ended cause you know y'all are nosy and you wanna know yeah just because there's no challenge on TV right now doesn't mean we're going to leave our podcast listeners hanging. Listen to MTV's official challenge podcast

wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back with my girl, S.E. How you doing? I'm good. Busy day. Busy news day. I know. I know. We're going to get into all of that. But first, I need to know what your thoughts were on the Vanderpump Rules. Did you see it? Season 10 finale, reunion, everything. Now that it is all out there, It is all out there. The world has seen it.

What do you think? It's wild. I mean, this is a masterpiece of television this season. And I mean, I hate it because it involves real people. And I know that, you know, there's real emotions here. But like like they say in Hollywood, you can't script it. Yeah. You couldn't script this. Now I've watched, you know, as long as it's been on.

it. Yeah. You couldn't script this. And I've watched, you know, as long as it's been on, so I'm invested in all of you, that these two people would do what they did on camera. On camera. We just said that. On camera. We said that. It is wild. And it's not like

they're new in this environment, like, you know what I mean? They've been in it. Yes. They know, if you know anything, you know how this is going to play out. You know you're going to be a villain. They're in it. They know, if you know anything, you know how this is going to play out. Yes, that's true. You know you're going to be a villain. Yeah.

And it was so raw and real. Like, your emotions were so real in the trailer and then also, you know, on the set

at the reunion. Everyone is so real and raw except Rachel who is a robot. I don't understand what's going on in there. Is she heavily medicated?

Is there just no connection between mind, body, heart? I don't get it. Right. It was very chilling to watch that. So then how did you feel watching her finally have emotion in the very last second? In the very end. Very end.

Listen, I'm all for accountability, and her coming out and telling the whole truth. Very end. Listen, I'm all for accountability and her coming out and telling the whole truth. Was it the whole truth though? Well, we'll never know. With these lying liar faces. But listen, clearing that up and contradicting Tom, you know, I think that was important. Important to do. Important for us to see. And man, does he just look even worse worse than you thought he could look after that i know after that because not only you know he's screaming accountability and i'm taking accountability and while he's doing that he's lying still about it

i am telling her to lie and so they were and they were lying because they their perception was it was more hurtful for both of their characters or to us to say this has been continuously happening, right? They were supposedly trying to protect what feelings Ariana had left that weren't already crushed. They were like, well, maybe if we act like it was just once and then not for a while, that'll be easier for Ariana to accept and, you know, get over. So in other words, maybe if we keep lying to Ariana. Correct. This will be again. Keep lying, it'll be better.

Yeah, let's not talk about how bad it was. The fact that we had sex in her house when her grandma died and she was at the funeral. Let's not talk about how the whole time, while Ariana was being a good bridesmaid, we were having sex in Mexico. Let's not talk about, it was just like, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?

And poor Jenny Ting was at the wedding by herself, one of Rachel's previous best friends. Okay. And she said that she was just seeing stuff that was off between Rachel and Sandoval. And she was like, I was, it felt like third wheeling with them. She's like, but I know they're best friends. She goes, it was just so weird.

I was in Ariana's room with them. the way rachel was just prancing around as if like this was her room she goes i just got really weird vibes but i'm like well that's just rachel being rachel and you know just making herself comfortable and inserting herself when she shouldn't meanwhile ariana is with me the bride being a good bridesmaid. What is bad bridesmaid doing? Banging the good bridesmaid's boyfriend. Insane. What? It's insane. And I think, I mean, if you don't watch the show, you'd be like, well, I don't get it.

Like, how could they do this without anyone knowing? But you watch the show, you know how y'all are together. You all hang out together. It's not weird that two would go off and go dancing at the Abbey or whatever. I didn't think it was weird at all. I get that completely. However,

watching back, everything was there for you to see. Yeah. Everything was there. Which goes back to exactly what you said, why this season

was such an iconic season. Yeah. Because there was a double entendre throughout the whole season. The whole. The whole season. You're exactly right.

It was a double entendre the whole season. And then we realized, oh, You're exactly right. It was a double entendre. The whole season. And then we realized, oh, look for a different. The subtext. Of everything else that was going on. Yeah.

Absolutely crazy. And that's why when we were in LA, we were doing like an Emmys. Right. I was just talking about that before you got here. Yeah, for consideration.

Like, that's the story. How production captured all of this and then picked up really quickly to get y'all's reaction in the immediate aftermath. It's just wild. Remarkable. Speaking of that immediate aftermath,

the happy Hamill wants to know what do you think of how I handled Punchgate and Rachel's abuse of the court system? That was such a real moment, too, because you're a very strong girl and we think, you know, we see you and you're like, I got this. I got this. I got my lawyers. Yeah. But to see you really break down and talk about how it was affecting your family and your daughter.

I mean, I got teary eyed because I'm a mom, too. You don't fuck with my kids. Right. Or my family. Yeah. So and I was actually it was refreshing to see Rachel say, I should not have done that. No, no shit. You shouldn't have.

Right. Just make keep making things worse. But I thought you handled it like a pro. And even better, like a mom. Thank you. That was the hardest part. It was like, there's the betrayal, but then when you put that on top of it,

like, that was the hardest part for me. Yeah, I bet. I can't imagine what you've gone through. There's the betrayal of Tom to you personally. The betrayal of Tom to your best friend Ariana. You having defended Rachel for so long. Yeah. Who then slaps you with a restraining order.

I know. How can you write this? Are you in therapy? Are you in therapy? At noon today, I have therapy. I think we're all in therapy now. I've been in weekly therapy. I was going every other week.

I've upped that to weekly. My therapist is, you know, the nerve. She's going on vacation for two weeks. What is she doing? Bad timing. You can call me. For those two weeks in June that she is gone, I've decided I'm going to see a psychiatrist because my OCD has just

gotten, it's like debilitating at this point. It's so bad. And I'm like, you know what? I think let's try some meds temporarily, six months, a year, see what it does. But it's just like, it's been a lot. I was there too. I had a total nervous breakdown about two years ago and I got on medication and therapy. Yeah. Because it is exhausting to live with this anxiety. Yeah.

Catastrophizing, terrible thoughts, feeling out of control, bad news all around. Yeah. People you thought you knew disappointing and betraying you I've been through that I'm still going through it I'm so proud of you thank you it'll get better but you gotta work on it it's gotten so much worse lately too I felt like when the scandal all broke and when all of that was going on and as stressful as the restraining order and all of that stuff was my OCD took a back seat

and then after like because you needed to survive exactly right and then after court and everything it was like okay I can breathe I'm not getting slapped with an assault charge I'm not going to jail I don't have a permanent restraining order like we can breathe but it still took like a week to be like, are they going to change their

mind? Is something else still going to come up? Like I was very still on edge. I went to dinner with my lawyer and I was like, it's not over. I don't, I feel like something's still going to happen. He's like, you're fine. You're fine. So then fast forward a couple more weeks, everything really does settle down. We like go to Coachella and we just kind of get back to which Coachella now that's like triggering on another level right right but it was like life was starting to just kind of go back to yeah normal it's my daughter's birthday and all of that but then right when that all started to go back to normal my OCD is like remember me still here right that's what happens. You can turn it off to survive. Yeah.

And then right when you're feeling okay. Yeah. It'll come back and say, no, no, no. You put me on a shelf. Yeah. You didn't get rid of me. Yeah. You put me on a shelf.

Well, I'm back. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. So. Well, you're lucky you have such a good partner. I do. And family.

But also, it's hard because he gets so frustrated with me when I'm like, I don't like feeling this way. Yeah. And it's just like, get over it. But I'm like, I can't. No, that's not a thing. Even just getting here, the subway. I'm like, we're going like feeling this way. And it's just like, get over it. But I'm like, I can't. No, that's not a thing. Even just getting here, the subway. I'm like, we're going to be late.

We're not going to have time. He's like, calm down. I don't lead with get over it. I lead with take a breath. Yeah, that's good. And let's break down like what is causing you to feel like this. And let's just put on a piece of paper. I don't know.

I'm just, I'm overwhelmed. When I ask her to do that, even that overwhelms her. Right. Then I go, well, I can't help you. If you can't do this, what else can I do? But you can't help her. This isn't a fixable thing. And so just be there.

Taking a breath is great. Yeah. But also, you're not going to fix it. There's no fixing. No. It's going to take some time. Yeah. Yeah.

But I was the same way in the car. My husband's in the corner. I was the same way. We're going to be late. What am I going to do? I need a distraction. I call my mom. I'm like, I just need a distraction. Yeah. It's not the same way. the car. My husband's in the corner. I was the same way. We're going to be late. What am I going to do? I need a distraction. I call my mom. I'm like, I just need a distraction.

Yeah. Because I'm the same way. Good to know I'm not alone. You are so not alone. I'm sorry that you go through that as well. Because it's just like certain days, it's just like now at the point where it's debilitating. And I'm like, I can't do this anymore. I feel the same way.

In covering the news and awful news all the time for my job. Yeah. I do want to ask you about that as well. Oh, why? What's going on? We've been talking about scandal in my workplace, but I know you have some drama going on in yours as well. There's scandals in my workplace as well. Were you shocked this morning when you saw the news about your boss, CNN CEO Chris Licht, had been let go? Like, what was your reaction? I wasn't shocked. I mean, it's been a very bad year. Did you see it coming? I hoped it was coming. Yeah. Like, no, this isn't personal against Chris, but we've had

a really bad year, a tough year at CNN with very bad ratings, low morale. I think some real bad programming decisions that were like double and triple down on and a lack of communication. And so for us on the talent side or even on the production side, it's been a very disorienting time with almost no leadership telling us what's gonna happen

and people getting cut every five seconds and you feel like I could be next. And very disorienting year. And so I was hoping for a change, whether that was Chris taking a different role or new leadership coming in, but it's not like, um, a happy thing either because we feel destroyed and we are still left picking up the pieces. He's gone. I don't know what's next. I don't know how to fix all the damage that's been done. Right. So it's a really tough demoralizing time for all of us.

None of us feel good today. What has been like the general tone? Like, do you guys have like work group chats? Yeah. Yeah. It's not good. I mean, some of this has been, I mean, it's been exhausting. Yeah.

It's a long time in the making too. Yes. And I feel like the problem with that you guys are facing is it's trust. Some of this has been exhausting. It's a long time in the making, too. I feel like the problem that you guys are facing is trust. Totally. Then how can you tell a story sometimes when you lose that trust? That's exactly right. Yeah. Especially as journalists, we need to feel empowered, independent.

Yeah. Not like our boss is breathing down our necks. That's not his job, actually. Right. And so some of the decisions that he made were very they felt like they were handicapping us. And we looked bad and we were embarrassed, but we didn't make these decisions. You know, the Trump town hall. I didn't make that call, but I have to live with it. I'm smeared by that decision. And yeah, it was just it was a tough place to be. I'm hoping for brighter days.

We need a strong press. I want all my colleagues at all the networks to be at their best. And we've not been at our best. No, totally. Who do you think is the right person to helm CNN? The right person to helm CNN left

was the last person that helmed CNNnn jeff zucker and i i'm not alone when i say i hope he comes back yeah jeff come back come back jeff come back rock wants you i got a couple questions regarding all of this okay do you think this is a direct result of that interesting feature from the atlantic yeah that was, I hope you didn't read it because it was 15,000 words. No, that's too much for me. It's too much for anybody. I barely read the LA Times Randall scandal

and that was because I needed to read every word of that. That's the longest thing I've read in a really long time. Listen, 15,000 words is too much access. You have given someone too much access to you and our organization. So that was a very bad look. But that was the last of many bad decisions. And

listen, again, not personal. Chris, I think, was great at running the Colbert Show, but it's a different thing to run a news network. It's a different thing. It's also a different climate in the world we live in, too. Because how we now consume content and consume media,

it's this, Sheena, like how many people will tune in to CNN News? What is that? Fewer than are listening to this podcast right now. Exactly.

I bet. And for sure. And because you guys get over a million, one downloads, you know. Oh, we do not do any close. 1.5 million, you know. And you're looking at a network

that's... I know. And so the output from social media and the impact it has now on on the media yeah as a journalist that's actually a fun question for me like what what does it because everyone's going independent to try and build that because you got to build your cred back up yes because it's got tarnished by the people above you that took it away from you yes and is this why vPR was on the main page of CNN? They're like, we need the clicks. I mean, do you blame them?

Can you blame them? I mean, Time, CNN. New York Times, CNN, The Today Show. What is this? Well, I mean, this just took hold of a nation, this story. But yeah, listen, every media outlet right now, especially cable news, is trying to figure out cord cutting and streaming and how to be relevant at a time when people don't watch the news don't watch i know they're on their phones right they're listening to your podcast so that's not just us we're all trying to figure that part out but yeah who we are as a brand what is the cnn brand anymore i'm not really sure people know we used to be on top of all the breaking news right something's happening you tune in to to CNN to see what's happening in real time.

Then we became real obsessed with politics, right? Especially in the Trump era. Real hyper-focused on politics. And I remember lots of stories falling away because we were so hyper-focused

on politics. Right. Well, who are we now? I'm not sure we know. And that's a problem. That's a problem for attracting viewers. Yeah.

And I want viewers. I want fans the way bravo gets such loyal fans and i have a friend in research at bravo you know dave and he would always tell me there's a cross-section a very important cross-section of cnn viewers and bravo viewers it's a very similar person that is watching both. They're affluent, they're well-educated. Right. And that always stuck with me because I live in both worlds, right?

I mean, obviously I live full-time at CNN, but I'm a Bravo-holic and I have a PhD in Bravo. So, accredited. Put that in there. So, like, I love that. And I want all those viewers. And we've got to find our way back. Definitely.

You know. If you were to transition from CNN to Bravo. Okay, from your lips to God's ears. Yeah. What show would you be on? Would I be on? Yeah. Well, why can't we have, like, what do you mean?

Or what show would you create? Let's create one together. So I have. I love a good creation part. We did create one. When we were in L.A., we LA, we came up with a concept. A dancing show concept. It was Battle of Bravas.

Bravo Battle. It was a spin-off. Like Lip Sync Battle, but all Bravo liberties? Lip Sync Battle meets Dancing with the Stars. Can I host it? Yes, 100%. Well, Brock wanted to host it, but I'm sure he'd let you guest host it. I think I'm better with a teleprompter than Brock.

Yeah, I'll be that guy. What's his name from Nints with the Stars? It does this guy. Carlton. Yes. I'm Carlton. I mean, Alfonso. Doing the Carlton.

So I have developed shows for Bravo that I'm not on talent from the production side. Yeah. And I like doing that. I develop shows for other networks too. I work on that. So I would like to do more of that. Yeah. And if I would ever be on, it would be as a host or interviewer.

I don't want to be a housewife. You know, I'm boring. Let's develop like a new source for Broadway. Let's figure out what that looks like. I love it. Tell your people. Okay. Tell your people. I'll have my people call your people. Wonderful. Perfect. I'll give you a text later on. Yeah, my person's over there. Your people is over there. call your people. Wonderful. Perfect. I'll give you a text later on. Yeah, my person's over there.

Your people is right here. We will chat. Exactly. Perfect. The Ashley Nicole wants to know, what is the most difficult thing about being involved with politics? I take it personally, and this goes back to anxiety and mental health. 20 years of covering

awful news and politics in this awful, weird time of politics where everyone hates each other has really taken a toll on my mental health it's not the hardest it's the thing that i am dealing with right now is doing my job and not being unhealthy while i do it right not taking every awful story home and and feeling like it's going to happen to my family. Oh, my God. It's awful. And it's a prison. Yeah. That you live in when you have that kind of anxiety all the time. And I can't my therapist, you know, we talk. She's like, you can't just not watch the news. You can't just not go on social media. This is my job. Yeah. And I want to be able to do my job, but not at the point where it's hurting me.

I mean, I literally do not watch the news for that reason. I see enough on social media. I hear enough from my mom. Good. I walked outside after I recorded here last night and I was like, oh my God, there's a fire. I didn't know anything about a fire. Yeah, right.

But yesterday during lunch, there was nothing. The air was clear. And then all of a sudden they're like, oh, the fire's in Canada. I'm like, I didn't know there was a fire. Yeah, right. But yesterday during lunch, there was nothing. The air was clear. And then all of a sudden, they're like, oh, the fire's in Canada. I'm like, I didn't know there was a fire in Canada right now because I literally. And all of a sudden, it's stay in your house. Oh, my God. It's so bad. I know.

But everything we do is at 11. Yeah. Right? All the news is at 11. And that goes for politics, too. The world's going to end, right? And that is tough. Yeah, right. It's always on edge. You always have to be there, right? And that is tough. Yeah, right.

It's always on edge. You always have to be, you have to be on point. Yes. Wow. Well, you always, the point of news has become to make you afraid. I hate being involved in that project. Enter 2020 COVID. I was terrified.

I made everyone get tested before they saw me. I was pregnant. I was, it I was. Right. It was bad. Right. Right. Well, and I hate that about my industry and where especially cable news has gone. Yeah.

To make people afraid. And I've said this. I said this to Dave at Bravo when he walked me around Bravo Con, the last one at the Javits Center, because I hosted some panels, walked me around and I see hundreds, thousands of fans so happy to be there, to meet you all, right? To be with their favorite people. And I thought, I hate what I do. These people are so happy.

This is what Bravo does for these people. Yeah. And all I do for people is make them angry and afraid. Oh. And it really hurt me. It made me sad. And I called my agents and I was like, I need to figure something new out.

And obviously I'm still in politics. That's fine. But this cannot be my 24 seven. I don't feel good about myself. Yeah. I feel like you also have a good perspective and you have a good way to present. So I think there's definitely a way to work on that

and build something that you enjoy doing. Because news shouldn't always be tearing down. It shouldn't always- Cause people should enjoy understanding what's going on in the world and learning. But for us, when I turn my news on, I don't want to turn it on because I'm like, I don't want to keep hearing this message.

It's terrifying. I know what's going on. Let's focus on like other things. I so hear you. But click bait, everything, it just kept capture attention. And division, the point is to kept your attention. And division. The point is to identify your enemies, not find friends. I hate that.

I hate it. I feel like a lot of my fears that I still have to this day could also come from watching the news so young growing up. And I've told my mom, when you're watching my daughter, news is not on your television at all. She does not need to see any of that.

She is two. First of all, she doesn't even understand it right now. But like as she gets older, I don't want her having the news on the television at home. That's so good. Because I remember growing up just watching every single first story. Someone was murdered.

It's always bad. If it bleeds, it leaves. There's no positive local news. I mean, maybe you have a little bit of the pride celebration or something, but it's always just so negative. And my mom, myself, and already my two-year-old daughter, such empaths that when I hear about a mother losing her child, I'm just like, I can't. I was much happier not knowing about the little three-year-old who ate a button battery and died.

I don't need to know that. I don't need to see it. It's just I feel it so hard. And I'm like, these fears that I have, my OCD, just everything has just gotten so bad. And I'm like, I think a lot of this started with the news. You don't need it. And I think that's really smart. And to start early with your daughter, too.

Yeah. I, you know, I've had to cover mass shootings of children on the air where I cry on the air because I can't contain my emotions. How could you? These are some of the worst stories and they happen all the time. They're on repeat.

I can't escape them. I know. So it's awful. And I'm proud of you for setting those boundaries yeah i wish i could i'm not good with boundaries but there's there's at least you know what they are i'm like i'm like rachel you know what boundaries are therapy yeah i mean i feel like honey this season i think going back to the show like you have done a really great job at standing up for yourself because you had you stood up for them all season you put it and

then as soon as it came down to like yo this is not okay you didn't waver in your opinion you set the boundary said you guys weren't fucking wrong she has been everyone's ride or die since season one everyone's ride or die and i think brock you're exactly right this season of course you were still there for everyone but you put sheena first yeah and it's such a difference i told you this in la like you're such a star you're such a star finally finally because i mean you know i hated the way people tried to kick you around and you're such a strong girl around because because i'm so fucking nice you're too nice you're too you are but you've you've really come into your own thank you you. You're a mom. You're a mom, and that really comes through.

Thank you. Love it. What do you think, in closing, Okay. What do you think Vanderpump Rules season 11 looks like? What do we have in store for us?

For a fan of the show, for a bravaholic, what does the season look like for you in the world? What do you want to see happen this summer? I mean, this is impossible but i want all the same people to come back i want to watch rachel and tom's journey not together as a couple barf but they're right figuring this out like i've always hated the cancel culture like

someone up and then let's send them off into the wilderness and pretend it never happened well it did and i'd like to actually learn about. Yeah. Case in point. What happened after? You still want to see that. You want to see the fallout. Of course I do. I mean, part of it is schadenfreude and you want to see like, OK, I want to see these people who fucked up really go through it. But I also want to see them come out. I want to see all of it. Yes. And I'm so in love with you guys. I want to see how this how you work through'm so in love with you guys. I want to see how this, how you work through it. So I really hope everyone comes back. I know what

Ariana's saying and I know that will be difficult. I get it. But there's been so much growth and maturity and you guys are really I think in your prime. Yeah. Right now. How? Ten years later and now it's like we're in our prime. You are. All of you. Prime. I mean Ariana and Katie with the, you know, something about her.

Like, it's all happening. By the way, that, I love how you just plugged that. I just walked past something about her the other day. It looks good. So good. Oh, good. I'm so glad. It looks so cute.

I'm so proud of them. Me too. I can't wait to go get some sandwiches. Yes, let's get sandwiches. Right? Yes. Yes. Bump is closing. Something about her is opening. There we let's get sandwiches. Right? Bump is closing. Something

about hers opening. Perfect. Perfect symmetry. Well, we unfortunately got to run. We've got an event to get to, but I'm excited to continue our night in New York together. Please tell everyone where they can find you. Now CNN still. We'll see for

how long, but CNN and SC Cup on Twitter, SC Cup on Instagram. Yes. Thank you so much for being here. I'm glad that despite the fires and the traffic and the train and my OCD and anxiety, we were able to make this happen. We did it. Team effort, baby. I love you guys.

Thanks for having me. Thanks for listening. Bye. Thanks for listening to Shenanigans with Sheena Shea. Download new episodes every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.