Vanderpump Rules' Rachel Leviss Announces New Podcast “Rachel Goes Rogue”

It appears that TV personalities who have suffered setbacks and controversies want to use podcasting to "tell their side of the story."

I don't know much about Rachel Leviss, whose name used to be Raquel?

Anyway, I guess her claim to reality TV fame is that she had an affair with the husband, Tom Sandoval, of another cast member, Ariana Madix, on the TV show, Vanderpump Rules. Hey, the show has been on TV for ten seasons, so someone is watching it. People often snicker at reality TV shows, because, in reality, they depict anything but reality. Aren't soap operas just a fictionalized version of what goes on with these Bravo reality shows?

Then somehow Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports got involved and called Leviss a "trash bag" as rumors swirled that he also had a relationship with her. Leave it to the pizza-pro Portnoy to do the impossible. Make a silly discussion of reality TV antics despicable by adding his misogynistic comments.

That all leads me to the announcement that "Television personality" Rachel Leviss, together with iHeartPodcasts, are premiering “Rachel Goes Rogue” on January 8, 2024. Rachel Goes Rogue will be executive produced by iHeartPodcasts and Bethenny Frankel and the “Just B” Podcast Network.

You can listen to the official trailer here.

The people at iHeart wrote this: "After navigating through a tumultuous year of intense public scrutiny, Rachel has emerged resilient and committed to personal growth. As the host of Rachel Goes Rogue, Leviss will lean into her journey and connect with listeners in a whole new way."

iHeart continues: "With Rachel Goes Rogue, Leviss will explore a spectrum of topics, mastering self-empowerment and navigating life’s challenges with grace and authenticity. She will passionately cultivate candid conversations, breaking the fourth wall in reality TV and frankly discussing living her entire dating life on camera. Opening up about her mental health breakdown and intensive treatment on the podcast, Leviss will aspire to inspire, bring awareness to mental health issues and challenge the stigma surrounding treatment."

iHeart asserts that, "every topic is on the table, with Rachel confronting her truths, exposing secrets, and drawing strength from her continued transformations. She will also welcome prominent guests spanning the realms of entertainment, pop culture, mental health and self-help."

Hey, I'm for giving anyone a second chance. If nothing else, the show should be interesting. I think before passing judgment, we should at least hear her out on her show. 

It does seem to be a growing trend that celebrities that are involved in a scandal now flock to podcasting to cleanse their recently tarnished image, and complete their self-redemption tour. Witness the recently announced podcast by T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, the recently fired co-hosts on ABC's Good Morning America. 

What's next? A podcast from Matt Lauer? Or Arnie Hammer on how cannibalism can control the world's population growth? 

“Rachel Goes Rogue” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available in the new year on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.