394: Taylor Swift's “The Encore” + RHONY’s Erin Lichy Addresses Katrina Comment

September 28, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the middle of an interview with Real Housewives of New York City star Erin Lichy, the conversation turns to the word "Katrina." Lichy had mentioned on the show that her architect described the water damage to her vacation home as "worse than Katrina," and the comment sparked backlash. She tells the hosts she regrets repeating it. "I would never compare the two," she says. "It's what he said to me, and I shouldn't have repeated it." The moment is a small but revealing window into the episode's two distinct halves: a sharp critique of Taylor Swift’s latest music drop, followed by a long, candid sit-down with Lichy about marriage, motherhood, business, and the strange reality of being a public person on a reality show.

The "Encore" Songs: Reheated Concepts and Missing Magic

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What you'll learn

1 (01:06) **Episode Intro & Taylor Swift "Encore" Disclaimer** - Hosts introduce the upcoming interview with RHONY's Erin Lichy and warn listeners that their honest, potentially negative opinions on Taylor Swift's new songs are coming.
2 (03:40) **Initial Reactions to the "Encore" Tracks** - The hosts describe their first, disappointing listens to the four new Taylor Swift songs released on Friday.
3 (08:56) **Deep Dive: "Patient Zero" & Its Music Video** - The hosts analyze the first track, criticizing its lyrical immaturity and the timing of its release.
4 (12:14) **Deep Dive: "Cleveland" (The "Sonic Crime")** - The hosts deliver their harshest critique, focusing on the song's shallow lyrics and obsession with haters.
5 (16:17) **Brief Thoughts on "Pink Clouding" & "Babylon"** - The hosts give quicker, more forgiving reviews of the final two tracks.
6 (18:21) **Transition & Interview Intro** - The hosts announce their upcoming deep dive on the Caleb Flynn murder case and formally introduce their guest, Erin Lichy.
7 (20:19) **Erin on Jessel Taank & Her On-Screen Persona** - Erin discusses the "word salad" insults from Jessel and explains her own authentic approach to the show.

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Show Notes

A candid breakdown of Taylor Swift's four new songs, her music video, and where Lauren and Chan really land after multiple listens.
Plus, Erin Lichy of Real Housewives of New York sits down for a chat about all things reality TV and life behind the scenes. Including but not limited to: her drama with Jessel, the Hailey and Claudia Oshry saga, motherhood with four kids in the city, her flooded Hamptons house, and building Mezcalum with her husband Abe.
(00:02:39) 🎵 TLOAS Encore — midnight listen leaves reheated Taylorisms and a Cleveland sonic crime verdict
(00:07:55) 🎬 Patient Zero — Patient Zero's ex-focused lyrics and the Law and Order-esque music video
(00:11:12) 🏈 Cleveland! & the Haters — Cleveland's pep-rally chants and a love song aimed at the haters
(00:15:18) 🌆 Pink Clouding & Babylon — Babylon's small-town message clashing with a Madison Square Garden wedding
(00:18:35) 🥗 Ponzi Scheme Word Salad — the one-man Ponzi scheme label that made no logical sense
(00:19:53) 📺 Authenticity on Reality TV — why refusing to fake friendships beats memorizing lies on reality TV
(00:23:50) 🍿 Jessel Drama Breakdown — the popcorn ceiling snickering and Jessel's claim she made Tribeca viral
(00:28:21) 🍓 Hailey Trolling Claudia Oshry — Hailey's years of unsolicited DMs to Claudia Oshry about her body
(00:30:57) 💔 Hailey's Homewrecking Allegations — the homewrecking accusation, food metaphors, and a missing apology
(00:33:33) ✈️ Former Cast and Brynn — why Brynn no longer speaks to the cast and the private island truth
(00:35:09) 👶 Raising Four Kids in NYC — raising four kids in the city and pushback against motherhood negativity
(00:43:10) 🍄 Plant Medicine with Abe — mushrooms, DJ sets, and connecting without getting drunk together
(00:44:50) 💑 Staying Connected in Marriage — spontaneous dinners beating rigid date nights for busy couples
(00:46:37) 🏥 ER Visits and Hypochondria — a ChatGPT-fueled 4:30am ER trip over feared deep vein thrombosis
(00:49:07) 🗽 Living in New York Forever — lifelong high school friends and why reality TV isn't real fame
(00:51:38) 🏗️ House Construction Stress — the architect's Katrina comparison she regrets repeating on air
(00:54:09) 🌊 House Flood Disaster — black mold forcing keepsakes into a dumpster after a burst pipe
(00:57:23) 🥂 Working with Your Partner — building Mezcalum through a spirits downturn while staying married
(01:04:26) 📓 JournalSpeak by Nicole Sachs — Nicole Sachs' JournalSpeak for raging out and throwing it away
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