The Good Edit with Elle Schwartz and Chris Persky

In this episode, we explore what happens when a woman’s confidence becomes both her crown and her crucifix.Across the Real Housewives universe, the boldest women are often the ones most scrutinized—because confidence, especially in women, is rarely met with neutrality. It invites projection, discomfort, fascination, and fear.We break down why a self-assured woman on reality TV can quickly become a storyline instead of a human being, how audiences participate in that narrative, and why culturally we still punish women who take up space without apology.And at the center of this conversation is Erika Jayne.Before the headlines, before the lawsuits, before the “villain edit,” Erika entered Beverly Hills already fully built: glamorous, armored, unwavering, and uninterested in shrinking. Her confidence wasn’t performative—it was protective.But on screen, that confidence collided with an audience eager to decode it, challenge it, or resent it. As her personal life unraveled, the very traits that once made her captivating—her composure, her refusal to cry on cue, her steel—were reinterpreted as coldness, guilt, or detachment.This episode begins to unpackWhy Erika’s confidence felt threatening to viewersHow trauma, upbringing, and perfectionism shaped her emotional boundariesWhy she struggled to display empathy publicly during legal turmoilHow the edit, the fandom, and the media recast her confidence as callousnessWhat happens when a woman’s coping mechanisms become evidence against herUltimately, we explore how Erika Jayne’s journey reflects a larger sociological truth:When a confident woman walks into the room, the room responds. And sometimes, that response says more about the room than the woman.

Elle and Chris are taking a deep dive into the iconic world of pageants — where performance meets precision✨ The psychology, sociology, and strategy behind competing under pressure✨ The confessionals, the cuts, and the craft of the edit✨ Crowns as currency, legacy as narrative, and the art of staying composed when the world is watching✨ And of course… who got the BEST EDIT of the week 👑🍸From runway walks to stage answers, from backstage politics to triumphant crowning moments, TGE  explores how Pageant Queens...Reality TV’s first true icons—navigate visibility, scrutiny, competition, and narrative control.If you love pageants, layered discourse, and a good cocktail, you belong here.Grab your drink, settle in, and let’s talk:the psychology, the sociocultural context, the performance…and why the edit...whether on stage or behind the scenesis never an accident.

Welcome to TGE-Fridays, the Good Edit’s weekly cocktail hour where Elle Schwartz & Chris Persky breaWelcome to TGE-Fridays, the Good Edit’s weekly cocktail hour where Elle Schwartz & Chris Persky break down the wild antics, iconic moments, and psychological mayhem of Bravo’s Real Housewives.Every Friday, we dive into:✨ The storylines that shook the week✨ The shade, the shifts, the alliances, and the edits✨ The behind-the-scenes motives hiding in plain sight✨ And of course… who got the BEST EDIT of the week 🍸👀If you love Housewives, layered discourse, and a good drink, you’re in the right place.Grab your cocktail, settle in, and let’s talk Housewives—the psychology, the sociology, the production choices…and why the edit is never an accident.Subscribe & join us every Friday for TGE-Fridays — delicious discourse served weekly. 💎🍸k down the wild antics, iconic moments, and psychological mayhem of Bravo’s Real Housewives.Every Friday, we dive into:✨ The storylines that shook the week✨ The shade, the shifts, the alliances, and the edits✨ The behind-the-scenes motives hiding in plain sight✨ And of course… who got the BEST EDIT of the week 🍸👀If you love Housewives, layered discourse, and a good drink, you’re in the right place.Grab your cocktail, settle in, and let’s talk Housewives—the psychology, the sociology, the production choices…and why the edit is never an accident.Subscribe & join us every Friday for TGE-Fridays — delicious discourse served weekly. 💎🍸Check us out on:Apple PodcastSpotifyIHeart MediaInstagram: tge_thegoodedit

Welcome to The Good Edit, the podcast where Elle Schwartz & Chris Persky look beyond the Bravo storyline to uncover the real woman behind the edit. Each season, we take a deep, humanistic dive into one Housewife—her history, her evolution, and the production choices that shaped how the world sees her.We do this because women’s complexity deserves more than a highlight reel. Because context matters. And because every woman, on-screen or off, deserves a Good Edit.So grab a cocktail, have a seat, and join us as we open TGE Door #1 and reveal which iconic Housewife anchors our very first season.