Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Overthinking Reality
TV & FilmSociety & CultureExplicit

Overthinking Reality

Tori Gwilt and Ian Murray

Overthinking Reality looks at reality TV through the lens of human behavior.

Licensed therapists Ian and Tori bring two different perspectives to the conversation: Ian is new to the reality TV world, while Tori is a longtime fan with years of franchise history. This season, they’re overthinking The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, from the relationships and communication to the unforgettable moments everyone is talking about.

New episodes every week.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. The discussion is commentary, not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

Play
Open in
  • 5 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 44 min
  • English

Episodes 5

NewestOldestLongest
All5Unplayed5In progress0Played0
  • #5
    Today · 49 min

    Overthinking Gifts, Gags & Grudges | RHOSLC S7E4

    What happens when friendship starts feeling less like connection and more like keeping score? In this recap of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 7, Episode 4, licensed therapists Ian and Tori continue overthinking the San Francisco cast trip, from shopping and suspicious questions to museum gifts, a ball gag, and a dinner where every unresolved conflict finds its way back to the table. First, Britani investigates the details of Bronwyn’s divorce and property arrangements while Bronwyn believes their friendship is in a good place. Ian and Tori explore the difference between gathering information and searching for evidence, why honesty does not always require immediate disclosure, and what happens when someone tries to elevate their position by bringing another person down. Then, Whitney describes her relationship with Quai as “sacred”—only to reveal more of Quai’s private comments during the group dinner. Ian and Tori examine friendship scorekeeping, competition within groups, and why feeling threatened by someone else’s connection can lead us to act against the relationship we are trying to protect. They also discuss black-and-white thinking, the difference between reacting and responding, subtle self-soothing behaviors during conflict, and why the Housewives’ confessionals and reunions offer such a fascinating look at reflection over time. Plus, the women divide into a vintage shopping group and a History of Vibrators Museum group, an unexpected gift becomes a talking stick, and Ian finally admits that he may be getting pulled into the Bravo universe. In this episode: Why relationships struggle when they become a zero-sum game Privacy, honesty, and choosing when to share personal information Britani’s investigation into Bronwyn’s divorce Friendship scorekeeping and competition within a group Whitney and Quai’s increasingly complicated dynamic Why emotional reactions can undermine what we actually want Choosing a response instead of acting on the first reaction Black-and-white thinking and finding the gray area Nervous habits and subtle forms of self-soothing What confessionals and reunions reveal about reflection Ian’s gradual transformation into a Bravo fan Are you a Bravo fan who loves overthinking the friendships, feuds, and communication behind the drama? Subscribe to Overthinking Reality and join Ian, a reality TV newcomer, and Tori, a longtime Housewives fan, as they unpack RHOSLC through the lens of human behavior and relationships. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every week. DISCLAIMER: Ian and Tori are licensed therapists, but this podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Their discussion is commentary based on edited reality television content, not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, therapy, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

    • Transcript
  • #4
    October 3 · 48 min

    Overthinking Trust, Betrayal, and the Toothbrush | Two Therapists Analyze RHOSLC

    What happens when one comment passes through the RHOSLC group before anyone confirms what was actually said? In this recap of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 7, Episode 3, licensed therapists Ian and Tori follow the women on Bronwyn’s St. Patrick’s Day cast trip to San Francisco. What begins as Quai sharing her first impressions quickly becomes a Housewives-sized game of telephone involving Whitney, Bronwyn, Heather, and Angie. Ian and Tori explore how “Diablo” becomes “diabolical,” how a comment about addressing the group is remembered as a warning not to be “aggressive,” and why tone, body language, and missing context can completely change the way a message is received. They also discuss why negative comments tend to stick, how assumptions intensify conflict, and the value of checking what someone meant before passing the story along. Then the toothbrush story comes out. As Angie distributes individually wrapped toothbrushes on the San Francisco trolley, Quai loses trust in Whitney but takes ownership of the story before anyone else can use it against her. Ian and Tori examine accountability, passive-aggressive communication, shifting alliances, and what happens when loyalty collides with the unwritten rules of reality television. Plus, the hosts reveal their Housewives-inspired taglines, Ian learns that surviving the group may be the real goal of the franchise, and Angie and Mary demonstrate how a thoughtful gesture can miss the mark without damaging the relationship. In this episode: How RHOSLC turns into a game of telephone The difference between words, tone, intent, and impact Why negative information can overpower positive context Clarifying what someone said before repeating it Trust, loyalty, and opportunity within group dynamics Taking ownership of an embarrassing story Passive-aggressive communication and retaliation Reality TV alliances and the pressure to return next season Respecting boundaries without taking them personally Repairing a well-intended relational misstep Are you a Bravo fan who loves overthinking the friendships, feuds, and communication behind the drama? Subscribe to Overthinking Reality and join Ian, a reality TV newcomer, and Tori, a longtime Housewives fan, as they unpack RHOSLC through the lens of human behavior and relationships. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every week. DISCLAIMER: Ian and Tori are licensed therapists, but this podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Their discussion is commentary based on edited reality television content, not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, therapy, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

    • Transcript
  • #3
    September 26 · 47 min

    Overthinking the Failed Apology Brunch | RHOSLC

    What makes an apology sincere, and does the other person have to accept it? In this episode of Overthinking Reality, licensed therapists Ian and Tori unpack Season 7, Episode 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. They compare the private conversation between Whitney and Lisa with the group apology that quickly sends brunch into chaos, exploring how setting, language, and social pressure can change the way an apology is received. Ian and Tori discuss the difference between taking responsibility and expecting reassurance, why accepting an apology does not require returning to the same relationship, and how unresolved conflicts can spread through an entire group. They also look at the importance of behavioral change, the pressure to “move on,” and why repairing a relationship requires more than simply saying the right words. Plus, Ian reacts to his first Housewives taglines, Whitney and Justin model a surprisingly thoughtful conversation, Lisa embraces the risk of skiing without knowing how to ski, and the RHOSLC editors prove once again that they are in on the joke. In this episode: Private apologies versus public apologies “I” statements, defensiveness, and assertive communication Who an apology is really for Forgiveness, acceptance, and relationship boundaries Why changed behavior matters Group pressure, triangulation, and unresolved conflict Self-awareness, humor, and embracing imperfection Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every week as Ian and Tori overthink Season 7 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: Ian and Tori are licensed therapists, but this podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Their discussion is commentary based on edited reality television content, not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, therapy, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

    • Transcript
  • #2
    September 19 · 48 min

    Overthinking Grief in the Public Eye | Two Therapists Discuss RHOSLC

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of suicide, suicidal thoughts, substance use, addiction, and the death of a child. Please take care while listening and feel free to pause or skip any part of the episode. If you or someone you know is struggling in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate danger, contact your local emergency services or emergency department. Additional support is available at 988lifeline.org. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City opens Season 7 with something far heavier than the usual drama: Mary grieving the death of her son while the other women consider how to support her. In this episode of Overthinking Reality, licensed therapists Ian and Tori discuss how RHOSLC portrays grief, substance use, and the complicated experience of loving someone through addiction. They examine the episode’s emotional opening, the contrast between hope and devastating loss, and the care production takes to separate Mary’s grief from the season’s unfolding conflict. As the episode moves forward, Ian and Tori also explore how old relationship patterns return when people come back together, why presence can sometimes communicate more than the “right” words, and the difference between accepting someone and expecting them to conform. They consider how watching yourself on television can expose dynamics you have normalized, and whether awareness is enough to create meaningful change. In this episode: How RHOSLC handles Mary’s grief and the death of her son The emotional realities of supporting someone through addiction Why hope and recovery rarely follow a predictable path How old conflicts resurface when people reunite The difference between acceptance and approval What Bronwyn’s conversation with her mother reveals about connection How watching yourself can create distance from an emotional experience When familiarity causes unhealthy relationship patterns to feel normal The difference between a genuine apology and one made to keep the peace How reality television balances real loss with entertainment Follow Overthinking Reality for weekly conversations about The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City through the lens of human behavior, relationships, and communication. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: Ian and Tori are licensed therapists, but this podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Their discussion is commentary based on edited reality television content, not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, therapy, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

    • Transcript
  • #1
    September 18 · 27 min

    Overthinking the Housewives: A Therapist’s Guide to Who’s Who

    Ian has never watched The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City—or much reality TV at all. Tori, however, has years of RHOSLC history ready to explain. In the first episode of Overthinking Reality, Ian reacts to the RHOSLC trailer before Tori introduces him to the Housewives, their shifting friendships, and the history behind the upcoming season. From Mary’s unforgettable “side piece” comment and Salt Lake’s commitment to themed parties to fractured alliances, public separations, and the complicated experience of watching relationships unfold on camera, they explore what makes the show both hilarious and uncomfortable. They also begin overthinking the human dynamics behind reality TV: why old conflicts return once filming resumes, how watching confessionals can reignite an argument, and what happens when cast members must keep interacting with people they might otherwise avoid. In this episode: Ian’s first reaction to RHOSLC A beginner’s guide to the cast and their relationships The difference between a Housewife and a “Friend Of” Why filming can complicate conflict, friendships, and marriages Humor, discomfort, avoidance, and the complexity of human behavior Why RHOSLC might be the perfect introduction to reality TV Follow Overthinking Reality for new episodes every week, and join Ian and Tori as they overthink The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City through the lens of human behavior, relationships, and communication. Disclaimer: Ian and Tori are licensed therapists, but this podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Their discussion is commentary based on edited reality television content—not diagnosis, treatment, advice, judgment, evaluation, therapy, or clinical opinion. Watching or listening is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

    • Transcript
Showing 1–5 of 5 episodes