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.

Play

Open in

35 episodes
Avg 1 hr 6 min
English

Episodes 35

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#391
Yesterday · 55 min
REPLAY: Maddie Kowalski Went Viral Against Her Will — Why the Cornell Case Brought Us Back to Her Story
Cornell is all over the news right now — a former student alleges she was drugged and assaulted by fraternity brothers two years ago, and it's only coming out now. But nobody's talking about Maddie Kowalski. And it just happened to her. Just last year Maddie was a sophomore at the University of Florida, when she says she was heavily intoxicated — in no position to consent — as intimate videos of her were filmed and posted online without her knowledge. Five million views. Memes. AI edits. Strangers saying she asked for it, that she deserved it. Her family harassed. She withdrew from school and stopped leaving her apartment. She told her story to Rachel, exclusively. Different school, different girl — same questions. Who do you believe? Why didn't the school take a stand? Did she deserve it because of her reputation? And the person who filmed it and put it online — should they face legal punishment? This is an encore presentation of Rachel's conversation with Maddie Kowalski. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#390
Tuesday · 49 min
The Other Side of Perfect: How Venus Griffin Rebuilt Her Life After Everything Collapsed
From the outside, Venus Griffin appeared to have the perfect life. She and her husband were raising six children in Augusta, Georgia. They were PTA presidents, sat front row at church every Sunday, and were known around town as the “Ken and Barbie of Augusta.” Behind closed doors, Venus says her marriage was becoming increasingly abusive. Then a phone call in the middle of the night began unraveling everything. A woman told Venus she was involved with her husband. Venus went to meet her convinced she could prove his innocence. Instead, it became the beginning of a series of revelations that would ultimately end her marriage and lead to her husband being convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Suddenly, Venus was raising six children, living in a two-bedroom house and trying to rebuild a family dealing with trauma, shame and financial uncertainty. Her first year selling real estate, Venus made $20,000 while working 70-hour weeks. Seven years later, she was grossing seven figures. Rachel Uchitel sits down with Venus to unpack the story behind the life that once looked perfect, why she stayed as long as she did, the guilt she carried afterward, the extraordinary way she rebuilt financially, and why she believes forgiving herself was harder than forgiving anyone else. Her new book, The Other Side of Perfect, turns the story she once worked desperately to hide into a roadmap for women who feel trapped, ashamed or convinced there is no way forward. https://www.venusmorrisgriffin.com/book --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#389
October 2 · 1 hr 17 min
Teal Swan on the Cult Allegations, The Deep End, and Why She's Misunderstood
She has millions of followers who say she saved their lives — and critics who say she's running a cult. Teal Swan is one of the most polarizing spiritual teachers on the internet. She built an empire on YouTube talking about trauma, depression, and healing, with no formal training in psychology — and thousands of followers who traveled to her retreats in Costa Rica. Then came the 2018 investigation accusing her of targeting people with suicidal thoughts, and the 2022 docuseries The Deep End, which put cameras inside her inner circle for three years and turned the whispers into a question the whole internet was asking: is this a cult? In this conversation, Rachel asks Teal the questions her critics never stop asking — and Teal answers all of them herself, including the moment she admits she structured her company almost exactly the way a notorious cult leader structured his. This is an encore presentation of our January 2024 conversation. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7 — call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#388
September 29 · 57 min
Marissa Rubinetti After 90 Day Fiancé: The Marriage, the Baby Question & What Viewers Got Wrong
Marissa Rubinetti just watched the world see her relationship with Edward play out on 90 Day Fiancé. But the wedding was filmed months ago — and a lot has happened since the cameras stopped. Marissa joins Rachel Uchitel to talk about what married life actually looks like now, the unresolved question of whether Edward still wants children, and why that issue is beginning to resurface in their relationship. She also opens up about watching herself back on television and realizing that some of the criticism from viewers was fair. Marissa admits there were moments where she spoke to Edward in ways she now regrets, explains why she came across as controlling, and shares how difficult it was to see a version of herself that even her own family barely recognized. They also get into Edward’s transition to life in America, the reality of their age gap, the prenup, co-parenting, family tension, the backlash she received online, and whether their relationship can continue to evolve now that reality TV is no longer documenting every moment. The 90 days may be over. But Marissa and Edward’s real marriage is just beginning. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#387
September 22 · 1 hr 17 min
Matt Bowyer After Prison: The Bookmaker Behind the Ohtani Gambling Scandal Speaks Out
Matt Bowyer is back on Miss Understood — this time after serving time in federal prison. Bowyer was the illegal bookmaker at the center of the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who placed hundreds of millions of dollars in wagers through Bowyer’s operation. When Matt first sat down with Rachel, prison was still ahead of him. Now, more than six months after getting out, he returns to reveal what actually happened behind bars, the violence he witnessed, the realities of life in a federal prison camp, and how difficult it can be to rebuild a life after incarceration. Matt also opens up about the temptation to return to the world that once made him millions, why people still owe him an astonishing $44 million, and why trying to collect any of it could send him straight back to prison. He also discusses being permanently placed in Nevada’s Black Book, the tens of millions of dollars in penalties tied to casinos connected to his case, the money he says he still owes the IRS, and why the fallout from his gambling empire is far from over. This is Matt Bowyer after prison — with nothing left to hide and an entirely different perspective on the life that put him there. VISIT OUR SPONSOR: Wavytalk: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=105835&awinaffid=2619464&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwavytalk.com%2F --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#386
September 18 · 44 min
REVISITED: Jackson Olson — From Instacart to the Savannah Bananas
Before Jackson Olson stepped onto the Dancing with the Stars stage, he sat down with Rachel Uchitel to share the unlikely journey that brought him to the Savannah Bananas. In this special encore episode, recorded January 25, 2025, Jackson reveals how a promising baseball career came to an abrupt halt during COVID, why he started delivering groceries for Instacart, and how making TikToks eventually led to an opportunity with MLB. Then, after seeing three Savannah Bananas videos in one night, he decided to shoot his shot—and found his way back onto the baseball field. Jackson also takes us behind the scenes of Banana Ball, from choreographed dances and trick plays to the unexpected challenges of being both an athlete and an entertainer. Originally released on the podcast, this conversation is back as Jackson takes on his next challenge: Dancing with the Stars. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#385
September 15 · 1 hr 3 min
Sharon Yitzhaky: 10 Kilos of Cocaine, a Bolivian Prison & the Escape That Saved Her
Sharon Yitzhaky thought she was traveling through South America with her first love. Then he disappeared—and she says she was left carrying suitcases hiding 10 kilos of cocaine. Arrested in Bolivia, Sharon was sent to a maximum-security women’s prison where she says she was electrocuted in the showers, surrounded by gangs and drugs, raised a baby inside prison, and eventually fell in love with the head of a cartel. Years later, after learning she was facing a 17-year sentence, Sharon says she had just 48 hours to disappear—leading to false passports, an escape across countries, and one of the hardest decisions of her life. Her unbelievable story inspired the film 10 Kilos. Follow Sharon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sharonyitzhaky/ --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#384
September 12 · 2 hr 3 min
Lorena Bobbitt Tells Her Side — Should John Wayne Bobbitt Come On Next?
Before this interview begins, Rachel and George address something unexpected: John Wayne Bobbitt recently showed up in the comments on our Youtube. So we’re putting the question to you: Should we interview John Wayne Bobbitt? Then we revisit Rachel’s full conversation with Lorena Gallo, formerly known as Lorena Bobbitt, about the story that became one of the most sensationalized cases of the 1990s. Lorena explains what she says was happening behind closed doors before the incident that made her a household name, including years of domestic violence, sexual assault, fear, and the cycle of abuse. She also reflects on being reduced to a punchline by the media and why she believes the public never understood the full story. Today, Lorena has turned that history into advocacy. Through the Lorena Gallo Foundation, she works to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and hopes to expand resources including legal support, mental-health services, and eventually emergency shelter. Watch the full conversation — and then tell us: Should John Wayne Bobbitt sit down with Rachel next? --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#383
September 11 · 1 hr 11 min
Remembering 9/11 With Rudy Giuliani & FDNY Fire Chief Robert Tucker
September 11th is not history to Rachel Uchitel. It is the day she lost her fiancé, Andy O’Grady, and the day her life changed forever. In this special episode, Rachel revisits the hours and days surrounding 9/11, beginning with the now-iconic footage of her outside Bellevue Hospital holding Andy’s photograph and asking for help finding him. She reflects on being 26 years old, newly engaged, and suddenly facing the loss of the future she thought she had. Rachel then speaks with Rudy Giuliani about what he remembers from inside New York City’s emergency response that morning: the first reports from the World Trade Center, the moment it became clear the city was under attack, the collapse of the towers, and the impossible decisions being made as New York’s leadership tried to respond in real time. The episode also features FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker, who reflects on what September means inside the fire department, the 343 firefighters lost that day, the many more who have died from illnesses connected to the recovery effort, and the tradition of honoring the fallen and their families. He also shares his own experience at Ground Zero and how narrowly he survived the collapse. This is a deeply personal remembrance of September 11th — through Rachel’s loss, the city’s response, the FDNY’s enduring grief, and the lives that continue to be shaped by that day. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#382
September 8 · 1 hr 17 min
Kyle Overmyer: The Sheriff Who Became the Inmate
Kyle Overmyer was once one of the youngest sheriffs in Ohio, a former narcotics officer who worked undercover, bought kilos of cocaine, and built a reputation for taking drug dealers off the streets. Then his own life began to unravel. What started with a legitimate prescription for painkillers turned into opioid addiction. Kyle says he began doctor-shopping, stealing Percocet from his father, and eventually going through prescription drugs surrendered to law enforcement inside his own sheriff’s office. In 2016, everything collapsed. Kyle was hit with a 43-count indictment, booked through the same system he once controlled, and ultimately sentenced to four years in prison. In this conversation with Rachel Uchitel, Kyle opens up about the double life he was living, the ego that convinced him he could keep running for sheriff even after being charged, entering prison as a former law-enforcement officer, spending 30 days in solitary confinement, being offered pills almost immediately, carrying a shank for protection, losing his marriage and career, and rebuilding his life after release. He also talks about becoming homeless after prison, taking a $9.50-an-hour job frying chicken, repairing his relationship with his children, and eventually returning to addiction recovery, public service, and law-enforcement-related work. This is a story about power, addiction, accountability, prison, and what it takes to build a life again after losing almost everything. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#381
September 1 · 1 hr 14 min
Jailed for Weed: How a Single Mom Became a Drug Dealer to Support Her Son
Karly Cramer never set out to become a drug dealer. In 2009, she was a struggling single mom in Scottsdale, Arizona, trying to make ends meet when a friend introduced her to the world of marijuana delivery. What started as a small side hustle quickly grew. Karly went from nervously spending nearly everything she had on her first six pounds of weed to supplying other delivery services and moving far more product than she ever imagined. Then it all caught up with her. After multiple arrests — including one traffic stop where she says police found 100 pounds of marijuana and $22,000 in cash — Karly was sentenced to jail. But jail didn’t just end one chapter of her life. It completely changed the way she saw the criminal justice system. Karly says being incarcerated exposed her to people struggling with addiction, mental illness, and circumstances she felt were being treated with punishment instead of help. From the moment she walked out, she says she was never the same. Today, through Jailed for Weed, Karly advocates for people serving long prison sentences for marijuana offenses and works to bring attention to cases she believes have been forgotten. In this episode, Karly opens up about how she built the business, what her son knew, the fear of getting caught, the arrests that changed everything, the guilt she still carries as a mother, and why she now spends her life fighting for people still behind bars. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#380
August 25 · 1 hr 6 min
Jay Paterno Discusses the Penn State Scandal and the Legacy of Joe Paterno
Jay Paterno—former Penn State assistant football coach, author, and current member of Penn State’s Board of Trustees—joins Miss Understood to discuss the 2011 Penn State scandal that reshaped college football and permanently altered the legacy of his father, legendary coach Joe Paterno. Jay walks through the timeline surrounding Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach later convicted on dozens of counts of child sexual abuse, and explains how the fallout expanded beyond Sandusky’s crimes to implicate Penn State leadership, leading to Joe Paterno’s firing despite never being criminally charged. He shares what it was like to witness the scandal as both a son and an employee, reflects on his father’s death just two months later, the removal of Joe Paterno’s statue, and why he continues to challenge the narrative of a cover-up. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#379
August 18 · 1 hr 27 min
Suzanne Lossia: The Arranged Marriage, the Divorce & the Life She Built After
Suzanne Lossia may look like she has always lived a glamorous, larger-than-life life — but the story behind it is anything but simple. Suzanne joins Rachel Uchitel to open up about growing up in a traditional Chaldean-American family, being pushed into an arranged marriage as a teenager, and realizing before the wedding that she did not love the man she was expected to marry. She talks about becoming a mother, living in a relationship she now describes as transactional, dealing with infidelity, and eventually making the decision to leave despite having little education, no real career, and no idea how she was going to survive on her own. Suzanne also gets candid about the years that followed — struggling to keep a roof over her children’s heads, living without electricity at times, selling possessions to survive, and trying to rebuild her life as a single mother. Then came a completely different chapter: television opportunities, Food Network, restaurants, entrepreneurship, and eventually a move to Palm Beach where Suzanne says she is finally learning to live life for herself. This is a conversation about family expectations, freedom, motherhood, survival, faith, reinvention — and what happens when you finally decide the life everyone planned for you is no longer the life you want. --- --- --- Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/shop/ PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#378
August 11 · 1 hr 15 min
Alexis Janssen on John Janssen, Shannon Beador, RHOC & Her Facelift Journey
Alexis Bellino Janssen sits down with Rachel Uchitel for conversation about life before, during, and after The Real Housewives of Orange County. Alexis gets candid about the facelift everyone is talking about — breaking down her entire experience of before, during and after. She also takes Rachel behind the scenes of her Real Housewives journey: how she unexpectedly landed RHOC all the way to the infamous “Jesus Jugs” nickname. Alexis opens up about meeting John Janssen, falling in love after
#376
August 10 · 55 min
BONUS EPISODE: Inside the Mind of Perez Hilton — The Interview That Hits Differently Now
Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com BONUS EPISODE: In light of Perez Hilton’s recent hospitalization following a deeply concerning TikTok livestream, we’re revisiting our raw and unfiltered conversation with the man who became known as one of the original kings of celebrity gossip. Long before this latest crisis, Perez opened up to Rachel about what was happening beneath the larger-than-life persona—the insecurity, pain and anger that fueled some of his most controversial behavior, and the realization that “hurt people hurt people.” He takes responsibility for the people he lashed out at, reflects on the ways he has hurt himself along the way, and reveals a much more vulnerable side of the person behind Perez Hilton. Listening to his words today, this conversation takes on an entirely different meaning. --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#374
August 4 · 2 hr 32 min
Dusty Turner: The Navy SEAL Wrongfully Convicted for 31 Years. Prison, Parole, and the Fight for Exoneration
Want some more BTS bonus content of Miss Understood? Join our patreon for Post Show Podcasts, Monthly Merch Giveaways and Weekly Bonus Episodes! Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com In 1995, twenty-year-old Navy SEAL Dusty Turner watched the man he trusted most — his SEAL Team “swim buddy” — murder a young woman in the back seat of his car. What followed was 31 years in a Virginia prison for a crime Turner didn’t commit: two trials, an 82-year sentence, a 2008 ruling that called him “actually innocent” (the first of its kind in Virginia history), and a Virginia Supreme Court reversal that sent him back to prison for 18 more years on what he calls a legal technicality. Paroled in March 2026, Turner sits down with Rachel Uchitel for his first extended interview since walking free — the SEAL “code” that kept him silent for a week, the polygraph strategy he used so the truth could surface without him breaking that code, what three decades inside 13 different facilities does to a person, and why he’s still fighting for full exoneration while living under sex-offender-registry restrictions for a crime he was never charged with. In this episode: • The night of June 18, 1995, and how it unraveled in under two minutes • Why Turner didn’t go to police — and the polygraph gambit he used instead • Learning years later that Billy Brown had confessed to the murder • Being ruled “actually innocent” in 2008 — and losing it again in 2011 • Training rescue dogs and growing an apple tree from a windowsill in solitary • Walking out of prison after 31 years, and what “paroled, not pardoned” really means • His new work with Veterans Healing Veterans, helping other wrongfully convicted vets Learn more and support Dusty’s fight for exoneration: https://www.freedusty.com/ Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out: https://veteranshealingveterans.com/index.html --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#373
July 28 · 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 like everyone else’s, and why she has dedicated herself to fighting for her grandfather after more than three decades behind bars. Now elderly and suffering from serious health problems, Orena remains incarcerated—and Jackie is asking a difficult question: At what point should punishment give way to compassion? Rachel doesn’t shy away from the other side of the story. She challenges Jackie on her grandfather’s conviction, the victims connected to the case, whether Jackie is arguing for his innocence or simply asking for mercy, and how she responds to people who believe she was too young to understand the man her grandfather was accused of being. Jackie also reveals what she would say if she had five minutes with President Trump, why every rejection has made her fight harder, and whether her advocacy will continue even after her grandfather is gone. This isn't just a conversation about organized crime. It's about what happens when the person the world knows from headlines is the person you simply know as family. --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us pr@missumedia.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#371
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 released the conversation in two separate episodes. We’ve never published it as one complete interview—until now. The interview was recorded well before the recent Velveteen story, so it isn’t about the current headlines. This is a candid conversation about Lee’s childhood, how he built The Asher House, why he devoted his life to rescue, and what it’s really like caring for so many animals every day. One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation is Lee’s honest perspective on running an animal sanctuary. The biggest challenge often isn’t the animals—it’s the people. We talk about the emotional toll, public expectations, criticism, and the realities of rescue work that most people never see. Whether you’ve followed Lee for years or you’ve only recently discovered him because of the Velveteen story, this is the full interview you’ve never heard in one place. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#367
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 us more than we realize, the differences between how men and women process emotions, and the misconceptions both sides have about each other. Whether you're trying to better understand yourself, your partner, your son, or the men in your life, this conversation challenges conventional thinking while offering practical insight into what healthy masculinity really looks like. In this episode: Why rejection hurts more than we realize The childhood experiences that shape adult relationships Why many men shut down emotionally What anxiety is actually trying to tell you Therapy, EMDR & modern mental health What "manning up" really means Why women often misunderstand men's emotional responses --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#366
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 in gross profit by graduation, Founders School refunds their tuition. Rachel and Nat discuss: Why Founders School has no traditional teachers How AI is changing education Why students spend most of their day building businesses The admissions process and why families are turned away The $1 million guarantee explained Whether college is still necessary What skills today's kids actually need to succeed Whether you think it's the future of education or one of the boldest experiments ever attempted, this conversation will challenge the way you think about school, entrepreneurship, and preparing the next generation. Founders School Website: https://founders.school/ --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel Email us infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Showing 1–20 of 35 episodes