Benita & Stew From Love Is Blind, Dorinda Medley Talks Golden Life + DTWS

October 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

On the latest episode of The Viall Files, host Nick Viall and his wife Natalie Joy, along with co-hosts Susie and Jimmy, cover three distinct segments: a deep dive with Love Is Blind season 7 cast members Benita and Stu, a conversation with reality TV icon Dorinda Medley about her new show The Golden Life and her book, and a breakdown of the latest Dancing with the Stars dedication night. The throughline connecting these segments is the tension between public perception and private reality—how edited TV moments create caricatures, and how the people behind them navigate the aftermath with vulnerability, accountability, and growth.

Benita and Stu: The Gap Between the Pods and the Person

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of The Viall Files

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Advertisements & Host Introduction** - The episode opens with sponsor reads for Palm Tea, Helix Mattresses, and a welcome from Nick, Natalie, and Susie.
2 (10:56) **Susie’s Curtain Conundrum & Relationship "Icks"** - Susie describes a frustrating interior design problem in her new apartment, leading to a conversation about deal-breakers and awkward conversations in dating.
3 (18:44) **Benita (Love is Blind) on Pods, Maury & Blake** - Benita discusses her experience on the show, her connection with Maury, and the confusing situation with Blake.
4 (33:22) **Benita on Her Refugee Story & Life After the Show** - Benita opens up about her childhood as a Kosovar war refugee and how it impacts her dating life and perspective.
5 (40:54) **Benita on Jax’s Decision & Final Thoughts** - Benita gives her perspective on her friend Jax’s decision to end things with Stu and her own regrets in the pods.
6 (49:21) **Stu (Love is Blind) on His "Douche" Edit & The Reveal** - Stu joins the podcast to address his public perception and walk through the overwhelming experience of meeting Jax.
7 (56:21) **Stu on Jax, Love & Accountability** - Stu discusses his relationship with Jax, his definition of love, and takes accountability for how he came across on camera.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!

Today, we welcome Benita and Stew to get into all the drama from this season of Love Is Blind thus far! Meanwhile, Dorinda Medley returns to spill all the Golden Life tea, as well as share some gorgeous advice for dealing with grief. Plus, Jimmy and Susie share their thoughts on Dancing With The Stars. Also, Nick is excited for the World Series.

"It's worth the embarrassment…"

HEY! YOU! DO YOU NEED DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE?
Email [email protected] and be a part of future Ask Nick episodes!

Want ad free episodes and incredible bonus content?
Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/

Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter

To Order Nick's Book and/or learn more about the show, go to: https://viallfiles.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Helix: Go to https://helixsleep.com/viall for 20% off sitewide.

Tonies: Go to https://tonies.com to learn all about it.

Little Spoon: Get 30% off your first online order at https://littlespoon.com slash VIALL with code VIALL.

Hers: Ready for thicker, fuller hair? Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/viallfiles for personalized care—from hair to weight loss to menopause and more.

Wayfair: Join Wayfair Rewards today to get five percent back on every purchase. Head to https://wayfair.com to shop all things home.

Quince: Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

ASPCA: To explore coverage, visit https://aspcapetinsurance.com/viall

To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles

Episode Socials:
@viallfiles
@nickviall
@nataliejoy
@dorindamedley
@benitapalo
@scooterstew
@jsotos1
@susiecevans
@justinkaphillips
@the_mare_bare
@baybaeee