Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel

Rachel Uchitel

New episodes every Tuesday at 12am EST
New Patreon episodes every Saturday at 12pm EST

This podcast will delve into the lives of those who have been reduced to a single headline. Each episode will take a closer look at the stories of those who are on a mission to change their narrative. Through raw and honest interviews, we will reveal the human behind the headline. Join me, as we uncover the truth behind the misconceptions, shed light on the stories of those who have perhaps been wrongfully portrayed, explore the complexities of the human experience, and celebrate the power of second chances.

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20 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Tuesday · 46 min
My Grandfather Was a Mob Boss: Jackie Orena’s Fight to Bring “Little Vic” Home
🎧 Want more Miss Understood? Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes conversations, extended interviews and more. Visit the Miss Understood Patreon and become a member today. To the world, Victor “Little Vic” Orena became known as a powerful figure in New York’s Colombo crime family. To Jackie Orena, he was simply her grandfather. Jackie joins Rachel for a deeply personal conversation about growing up with the Orena name, the moment she realized her family wasn’t li
July 24 · 1 hr 40 min
The Man Behind The Asher House Dog Sanctuary: Lee Asher’s Story, Told in Full
With Lee Asher back in the news following the recent attention surrounding Velveteen, I wanted to bring back one of my favorite interviews. For those who aren’t familiar with him, Lee is the founder of The Asher House and one of the most influential voices in animal rescue today. Nearly 3 million people follow his work across Instagram and YouTube as he documents the realities of rescuing animals and running a sanctuary. Years ago, I interviewed Lee for Miss Understood. At the time, we releas
July 21 · 52 min
What It Means To Be A Man | Therapist Trey Tucker Explains
Why do so many men struggle to open up? Why do relationships break down even when both people care? And what does "manning up" actually mean today? Rachel sits down with therapist and Rugged Counseling founder Trey Tucker for one of the most honest conversations we've had about masculinity, rejection, anxiety, childhood trauma, and why so many men quietly carry emotional burdens they never talk about. Together they explore how our earliest experiences shape who we become, why rejection affects
July 14 · 45 min
This $150,000 School Promises Kids Will Make $1 Million… Or Your Tuition Back | Nat Eliason
What if high school wasn't about preparing students for a job—but teaching them how to build a business instead? Rachel sits down with Nat Eliason, co-founder of Founders School, an innovative high school redefining what education can look like in the age of AI. For $150,000 per year, students spend their mornings learning through AI-powered instruction and their afternoons building real businesses alongside experienced entrepreneurs. The boldest promise? If students don't generate $1 million
July 7 · 1 hr 14 min
Reality Steve EXPOSES Reality TV's Biggest Secrets | Taylor Frankie Paul, Love Island & Bachelor Bombshells
For nearly two decades, Reality Steve (Steve Carbone) has been the internet's most trusted source for reality TV spoilers and behind-the-scenes information. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Steve to discuss how he built his reputation breaking Bachelor spoilers long before the finales aired—and why his reporting has changed the way fans watch reality television. They dive into the latest headlines surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul's unaired Bachelorette season, why ABC pulled the show just
June 30 · 45 min
Inside the Las Vegas Massacre: The Survivors Who Refused to Give Up
Rachel sits down with author and longtime entertainment journalist Mark Gray, who was covering the Route 91 Harvest Festival for Rolling Stone on October 1, 2017—never imagining he'd become part of one of the darkest nights in American history.Mark shares what it was like to be inside the festival as gunfire erupted, the lasting impact of surviving the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, and why he chose to write Las Vegas Massacre Connections.But this conversation isn't just about t
June 23 · 1 hr 7 min
How Would YOU Know If You Were In a Cult? Sarah Edmondson On Escaping NXIVM #380
Sarah Edmondson never thought she'd join a cult.Like so many others, she was searching for personal growth, community, and purpose when she discovered NXIVM—a self-help organization that promised to help people become the best version of themselves.Instead, she found herself trapped inside one of the most notorious cults in modern history.In this eye-opening conversation, Sarah shares how she became involved with NXIVM, the red flags she noticed from the beginning, and why she ignored them. She
June 9 · 59 min
The Truth About Joey Merlino: Mob Boss, Prison, Loyalty & Life After The Headlines
For decades, Joey Merlino has been one of the most controversial and recognizable figures in America. Federal prosecutors called him the boss of the Philadelphia crime family. He's spent years behind bars, fought some of the biggest federal cases of his life, and recently became the subject of renewed public attention through a Netflix documentary.In this candid conversation with Rachel Uchitel, Joey opens up about prison, solitary confinement, loyalty, betrayal, gambling addiction, family, seco
June 2 · 56 min
I Was In Prison With Mackenzie Shirilla: The Real Story Behind Netflix's The Crash | Miss Understood #378
After Netflix's The Crash reignited national attention around Mackenzie Shirilla, Rachel Uchitel sits down with former inmate Kat Crowder, who spent time incarcerated with her in Ohio prison.Kat shares what Mackenzie was really like behind bars, why she says the woman featured in the documentary didn't match the person she observed in prison, and what inmates thought about one of the most talked-about true crime cases in recent years. She also discusses Mackenzie's prison reputation, disciplinar
May 26 · 1 hr 1 min
The Animals Left Behind in the California Fires | Miss Understood #377
Boomer Buddies Rescue: https://www.boomersbuddies.comJessica Davis IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessandheranimals/?hl=enAs wildfires tore through California, many residents were forced to flee without knowing if they would ever see their pets again. In this heartbreaking episode, Rachel Uchitel speaks with animal rescuer Jessica Davis, who entered the Palisades fire zones to search for stranded animals after entire neighborhoods had been destroyed. Jessica shares the emotional stories of desper
May 19 · 1 hr 14 min
Kelly Bensimon on The Golden Life, Reinventing Herself & Why She Embraces Being Misunderstood
Reality TV icon, model, entrepreneur, author, and luxury real estate powerhouse Kelly Bensimon joins Rachel for a deeply personal conversation about reinvention, resilience, and why being misunderstood may actually be her greatest strength.Fresh off filming E!’s highly anticipated new reality series The Golden Life — which reunites original RHONY legends in Palm Beach — Kelly opens up about what it was really like stepping back into ensemble reality television on an entirely different network wi
May 16 · 1 hr 19 min
Andrea Bartzen: EXCLUSIVE Inside the World of Family Offices, Charity Galas & Social Climbing Gone Wrong
Andrea Bartzen was labeled the “Fake Cartier” in a viral society scandal that lit up Palm Beach, Manhattan, and social media. But headlines rarely tell the full story.In this episode of Miss Understood, Rachel Uchitel sits down with Andrea for an exclusive conversation about the accusations, the media storm, and how one article changed her life overnight.Andrea opens up about her past, her connections, the claims made against her, and why she says much of the story was false.Then Rachel takes it
May 12 · 46 min
Is Korea 10 Years Ahead of American Beauty? Inside the Billion-Dollar K-Beauty Boom
K-Beauty expert Erin An joins Rachel Uchitel on Miss Understood to break down why thousands of people — including celebrities and luxury clients — are flying to Korea for advanced beauty treatments. From stacked lasers and stem cell facials to anti-aging trends not available in America, Erin explains what makes Korean beauty clinics so different, why Seoul has become the global hub for cosmetic treatments, and what people should know before booking their own trip.Learn more at: http://www.kbeaut
May 5 · 57 min
Jeff Bezos, Amazon & The Case That Took Everything | Amy Nelson
What would you do if everything you worked for was suddenly taken from you?In this episode, Rachel sits down with Amy Nelson to break down a shocking 6-year legal battle involving Amazon, federal prosecutors, and a case that completely unraveled.Amy’s husband, a former Amazon Web Services real estate executive, was accused of being part of a multi-million dollar kickback scheme tied to data center land deals. Amazon claimed he used insider knowledge to profit from real estate transactions.Then e
April 28 · 59 min
Oz Pearlman's Life Story is UNREAL - The Art of Mentalism | Miss Understood #373
Before he was standing next to the President of the United States at the most chaotic White House Correspondents' Dinner in history — Oz Pearlman sat down with Rachel in 2023 and told her everything.In this throwback episode, Rachel sits down with Oz Pearlman, the mentalist who just took the world by storm at the 2026 WHCD, for an intimate conversation you won't find anywhere else. Oz opens up about growing up as the twin who survived, how losing his other half at birth shaped the man he became,
April 25 · 43 min
Andrea Bartzen Breaks Silence on “Fake Cartier” Accusations | Miss Understood #372
To watch the full interview go to: https://www.patreon.com/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelTo listen to the full interview go to: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/id1676849476?i=1000763518791Andrea Bartzen was labeled the “Fake Cartier” in a viral society scandal that lit up Palm Beach, Manhattan, and social media. But headlines rarely tell the full story.In this episode of Miss Understood, Rachel Uchitel sits down with Andrea for an exclusive conversation
April 21 · 53 min
It Started With a Whisper: Rob Shuter on Taylor's Secret Wedding, Diddy's Freedom & Madonna's Master Plan
Buy Rob's Book "It Started With a Whisper": https://a.co/d/00i2kw8cGossip insider and author Rob Shuter joins Rachel Uchitel on Miss Understood to break down the biggest celebrity stories you need to know. Rob reveals insider intel on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's highly secretive summer wedding — including why even the guests don't know the location yet. He breaks down whether Diddy could actually walk free within months, what's really happening behind the scenes with Blake Lively's career-en
April 18 · 21 min
Azadeh Atzberger: Born Into War, Broken by Narcissistic Abuse, and How She Rebuilt Her Life From the Ground Up
For the Full Interview, Go To: https://www.patreon.com/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel"My introduction to the world was riots and violence."Azadeh Atzberger was born in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution — bombs, riots, and chaos were her earliest memories. She came to America as a child, was bullied relentlessly, called the Ayatollah's daughter, and found herself in a violent, abusive relationship that left her bloodied, stitched up, and abandoned at a mental institution by her own mother.Tod
April 14 · 1 hr 10 min
The Real Reason Rachel Dolezal Identifies as Black | Miss Understood With Rachel Uchitel #369
She was called a liar, a fraud, and a con — but what if the story you were told was manufactured? Rachel Dolezal, now Nkechi Diallo, sits down with Rachel Uchitel for her most honest conversation yet. From a survivalist childhood in rural Montana, sexual abuse, and a cultish household, to Howard University, leading the NAACP, and the private investigator her own parents hired to destroy her credibility — this is the story behind the headlines. Plus, life after the fallout: OnlyFans, losing every
April 11 · 33 min
Fyre Festival Naming Rights Fiasco: Old Man Liver vs. Billy McFarland and the ChatGPT Blunder | Miss Understood #368
For the Full Interview, Go To: https://www.patreon.com/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitelIn this episode, we sit down with Stephen Staats, aka Old Man Liver, who tried to buy the naming rights to Fyre Festival. Things took a wild turn when Billy McFarland sent over a botched contract generated by ChatGPT—complete with the wrong company name. We dive into what really happened, Billy’s unprofessional dealings, and how it all fell apart.--- --- —OUR SPONSORSOHHOGo to weareohho.com and use code MISS15

Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel

My Grandfather Was a Mob Boss: Jackie Orena’s Fight to Bring “Little Vic” Home

The Man Behind The Asher House Dog Sanctuary: Lee Asher’s Story, Told in Full

What It Means To Be A Man | Therapist Trey Tucker Explains

This $150,000 School Promises Kids Will Make $1 Million… Or Your Tuition Back | Nat Eliason

Reality Steve EXPOSES Reality TV's Biggest Secrets | Taylor Frankie Paul, Love Island & Bachelor Bombshells

Inside the Las Vegas Massacre: The Survivors Who Refused to Give Up

How Would YOU Know If You Were In a Cult? Sarah Edmondson On Escaping NXIVM #380

The Truth About Joey Merlino: Mob Boss, Prison, Loyalty & Life After The Headlines

I Was In Prison With Mackenzie Shirilla: The Real Story Behind Netflix's The Crash | Miss Understood #378

The Animals Left Behind in the California Fires | Miss Understood #377

Kelly Bensimon on The Golden Life, Reinventing Herself & Why She Embraces Being Misunderstood

Andrea Bartzen: EXCLUSIVE Inside the World of Family Offices, Charity Galas & Social Climbing Gone Wrong

Is Korea 10 Years Ahead of American Beauty? Inside the Billion-Dollar K-Beauty Boom

Jeff Bezos, Amazon & The Case That Took Everything | Amy Nelson

Oz Pearlman's Life Story is UNREAL - The Art of Mentalism | Miss Understood #373

Andrea Bartzen Breaks Silence on “Fake Cartier” Accusations | Miss Understood #372

It Started With a Whisper: Rob Shuter on Taylor's Secret Wedding, Diddy's Freedom & Madonna's Master Plan

Azadeh Atzberger: Born Into War, Broken by Narcissistic Abuse, and How She Rebuilt Her Life From the Ground Up

The Real Reason Rachel Dolezal Identifies as Black | Miss Understood With Rachel Uchitel #369

Fyre Festival Naming Rights Fiasco: Old Man Liver vs. Billy McFarland and the ChatGPT Blunder | Miss Understood #368