Jocelyn ❤️ Bitch Sesh

In this episode of Pod, Actually, Jocelyn talks about her favorite podcast: Bitch Sesh, the cult-favorite show devoted to The Real Housewives franchise.

Jocelyn calls it a “guilty pleasure,” but what unfolds is something more interesting: a portrait of why we turn to “ridiculous” television, why warmth matters more than expertise, and how much we need to like the people whose voices keep us company.

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Transcript

2026 02.27 Jocelyn Startz/Bitch Sesh

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hello, I'm Catherine and welcome to Pod Actually, a podcast about people's favorite podcasts. On today's program, I'm speaking with Jocelyn. Jocelyn is a lawyer, musician, and bridge player from San Francisco, California. And full disclosure, she is also the co-host of my other podcast, Sorry Partner. Let's jump in. Jocelyn, what is your favorite podcast? You mean besides Sorry Partner?

SPEAKER_01 0:33

I do. Okay. I would have to say it is a podcast called Bitch Sash. Bitch Sash. No. It's a little embarrassing. You know, some people have one guilty pleasure.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

I seem to have plural guilty pleasures. And bitch session at the top of this list of guilty pleasures in the podcast space. Probably, yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Yes. Well, my guilty pleasure being reality television. And this is a very funny podcast all about reality television.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

And about all reality television or about a particular program?

SPEAKER_01 1:27

Specifically the housewives, the real housewives of various cities and counties.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Can you describe the show for me? And for somebody who isn't familiar with it, does it have regular segments? Is there a structure to it?

SPEAKER_01 1:46

Yes, there are two co-hosts, and they are both comedians, writers, actresses, entertainers, and they talk about what's happening in their lives, which always are full of Prattfalls and hijinks and hilarious escapades. And then they talk about the show's recent events on the show's gossip or news that's come out about a housewife perhaps being arrested, perhaps being jailed, perhaps getting a divorce, perhaps getting married. Something will happen off camera, so to speak, and they'll discuss that. But it's just the way they do it is so funny because their attitude, while they have a ton of affection for these shows, they also absolutely recognize how utterly ridiculous and foolish the behavior that is being depicted on these shows is 99% of the time. So their take on it is it's warm, it's fun, it's exactly like what my attitude is. I watch those shows for entertainment. I think they're hilarious. I think what I'm watching is ridiculous, but it takes my mind off of much more serious problems going on, and it's a relief, to be honest. And they have a similar attitude, and they're just really witty and hilarious.

SPEAKER_00 3:39

So do you think you would listen to them even if they weren't talking about the Housewives franchise?

SPEAKER_01 3:45

I have listened to them when they have talked about television programs that I don't watch and have no interest in watching, and I find it enjoyable as well.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

So you're drawn in really by the hosts and their relationship and their personalities. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

Yes. They they seem like women that I would really like in real life.

SPEAKER_00 4:07

Yeah. And they also happen to enjoy the same programs that you like to watch.

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Yes. One of them I feel I have a lot in common with, the other one I feel like I have very little in common with, however, she would be someone I would love to be around and be friends with. So it, you know, it's like one of them is like me and the other one is like my good friend or something. And I just feel very comfortable listening to them and laughing along with them. Is it a weekly podcast? Pretty much, yep. Every once in a while they'll come out with something in between two regular episodes, but typically it comes out once a week, yeah. And do you listen as soon as it drops? Not necessarily. I listen to podcasts when I have a long trip in the car. I don't tend to listen to them at home. I listen to them when I'm traveling or when I'm driving in my car, which isn't all the time.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

But you'd find time to listen to this show every week.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Not necessarily. Sometimes they rack up. Because sometimes I'll listen to them while I'm like doing the dishes or something. But most of the time I will listen to them when I am in the car or on a plane or something. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Okay. So it's not like let's say every Tuesday the show drops and you're gonna find time that day to listen, you're happy if it turns out that a couple of them bank up, but you'll look forward to listening next time you're on a flight or you, like you say, going on a longer drive.

SPEAKER_01 5:42

Mm-hmm. Yeah. I never get very far behind. Like it that just doesn't happen. So it it works out.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

So if you're watching the Real Housewives on television and there's something topical that's happened in that episode, are you keen to hear them discussing it on the podcast in a timely fashion? Or would you be okay with hearing about that, say, in two weeks when you listen, or will that be something that would make you listen to that episode maybe in a more intentional way than just waiting till next time you went for a drive?

SPEAKER_01 6:18

I think generally not, because there's nothing that is super important, and I just know that whatever their take on it will be, even if it's not the same as my take, will be very funny and and wittily expressed. So pretty much that goes with everything. It's it's there are times when I've disagreed with them, but there's never a time when I'm so eager to hear their take on anything. But I know I I know I'll always be amused by what they have to say, even if I don't agree with it. But I usually do.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

And do you listen at regular speed or do you speed it up? I listen at regular speed. And are there ads on the program or is it a subscription program or some balance where you get ads if you don't subscribe? How is it set up?

SPEAKER_01 7:20

It's a subscription program now. It used to be with ads, and I don't think there are any ads anymore. There are multiple levels of subscription you can pay for, and then you get additional content as you go up, and I'm at the bottom. But I'm happy to subscribe because it's so fun.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Do you ever talk about this podcast with other people?

SPEAKER_01 7:45

Well, when they came, they had a show. They did a live show, the two hosts in San Francisco. So I reached out to friends, and my husband ended up coming too. But none of the friends are people that are really interested in housewives. They just thought it would be a fun evening. And my husband knows that I find them particularly funny. Actually, it's the second show that I've been to of theirs. The first one was quite a while ago, and I went with a friend who did know them and did watch Housewives, and that was really fun. But she moved away, and I couldn't entice her to come back for a visit for this last show, which was just last year. So does your husband talk to you about the program? Every once in a while, I'll play a snippet for him that I think is so funny and that I think will make him laugh. So he is positively inclined towards them. Most of the time, when I'm playing a snippet, it is not about the housewives. It is something adjacent to the universe of the housewives.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

But you haven't persuaded him to follow the show.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

Oh, he doesn't listen to any podcasts.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Oh, okay. But it sounds like you're the only person in your circle who follows this particular show.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

I think that's right. At the sh at the live show last year, I looked around the audience and I didn't know anybody.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

Do you remember how you discovered the program?

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Yes. I was watching Andy Cohen's show, Watch What Happens Live, on Bravo. And Andy is kind of like the creative head and runs all of these shows. I don't know exactly what his position at Bravo is, but it's it's up there and he does a nightly talk show. A lot of times it's centered around housewives things, things on Bravo shows, but sometimes it's not. But he had the hosts, Casey and Danielle, on his show. This has got to be almost 10 years ago, and they were so hilarious. And when I learned they had a podcast, I checked it out, and I've been listening to it ever since. Just because they were so their take on these things was so funny to me. And they just seemed like such wonderful people in real life. So they always are doing fundraisers for children in need. I mean, they have a real bleeding heart, um gestalt, I guess, that really feels very genuine. You know, they always want to help out people in need, people who have been affected by natural disasters or other kinds of tragic circumstances. And so, you know, they just seemed like really lovely people that that I would like in real life if I ever knew them.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

I was going to ask you if um you found out that they weren't so nice in real life, if that would affect your feelings about the podcast, but it sounds like you know that they are very nice.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

I think it would affect how I feel because I think a huge part is feeling like I I feel so warmly towards them. So I think a huge part of my liking the show is liking the hosts. And if I heard something unsavory or learned something that was verifiable, verified, that was unsavory about them, I don't think I would continue to like the show. I mean, I've turned off on all kinds of things that I used to like based on finding stuff out about people who I thought were admirable and turned out not to be.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Yeah, so you really you want that congruence between their their private and and public person.

SPEAKER_01 12:01

Yeah. And I think honestly, I mean you you asked me specifically about Bitch Sesh, but when I think about all the podcasts that I regularly listen to, and there aren't a gazillion, there is that in common. I really like the people. I feel like I would like them in real life and that they're admirable people. But of course, they're good at putting themselves out there in that way. And if I were to find out that that wasn't true, I would feel differently about their shows.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yeah. And yet there's plenty of evidence that they are in fact good people in real life. Yeah. Has listening to Bitch Sesh changed the way that you think about any particular topic? I don't think it has.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

But that's a really good question. I'm not I'm not I can't think of anything.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

That's fine. If the podcast stopped tomorrow, how long would it take you to notice?

SPEAKER_01 13:05

I would probably notice within a week or two, if not shorter. It just it's very random when I'll listen to it. And how would you feel about it? You know, I would be sad, but I would be able to I think find something else that I liked. There's so much content, there's so much good stuff.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

It's not gonna break you.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

It's not gonna break me.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

I would be sad though. Sure. If you met someone who'd never listened to podcasts before and they were looking for a recommendation, would you recommend Bitch Sash? Only to someone who watched Real Housewives. Is that just because they wouldn't understand? Does it just not make sense if you're not watching the program?

SPEAKER_01 13:57

No, I think they're I think it's it's funny, but it's just kind of maybe a waste of someone's time. There's other stuff that they would probably find more fun and compelling. This is just if you happen to be interested in those ridiculous programs as I am, it's enjoyable.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

Is the podcast audio only or is there a video component as well?

SPEAKER_01 14:24

They've recently started having it video. I don't watch it. I listen to it in the car, I listen to it when I'm traveling, I listen to it while I'm doing the dishes, so I never watch it. I suspect I'm not not missing too much other than their fun facial expressions, but I get it so much from their voices, I don't feel like I need the video. Can you imagine a time when you would watch the video? I can imagine it. Maybe if I were laid up and unable to play bridge for a little while. I might I might watch it.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Hmm. But you're not drawn to it. No, I'm not. Have you ever pretended to like the podcast less than you do? No. Final question. Do you think liking this podcast says something about you? And if so, what is that?

SPEAKER_01 15:23

It says I like to watch the Real Housewives programs, which is not necessarily a good thing. It's not something I'm particularly proud of that I like to watch this trash on television, but I do, and I explained it it's entertaining and it takes my mind off other crap in a way that I'm very grateful for. And you know, it's funny because I was talking to my daughter, who I think thought that I was watching, because she knew that I liked to watch the The Housewives, but she didn't really know why. I think she thought that I was watching with admiration over their opulent lifestyles and maybe wanting to get some tips. And I explained to her that was not the situation, and that it's purely for entertainment, and I am not looking up to these women in any way.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

Jocelyn, thanks so much for talking with me today.

SPEAKER_01 16:32

Well, thank you, Catherine. It's been a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

And that's the show. Podactually is produced and hosted by me, Catherine Harris. If you like the program, please tell a friend. And you can also support us over at Patreon at Pod Actually or on Substack. Thanks for listening. See you soon.