Marriage, Money, and Motherhood: Heather Dubrow’s OC Legacy | Ep. 22

Daryn Carp (0:04)

Heather Dubrow, welcome to After the Edit. I appreciate you being here. You're one of my absolute favorites. I just feel like we have such a good relationship, and you always treat me with such respect. So thank you for being here.

Heather Dubrow (0:15)

I adore you. You know that I will always be here for you.

Daryn Carp (0:18)

You and Terry both, I feel like you're a surrogate mom dad figure. I just look up to you guys in so many ways. Your relationship, we were talking about how I just think you have the best marriage.

Heather Dubrow (0:28)

I said the bar is low.

Daryn Carp (0:30)

The bar is a little low.

But listen, you've mastered the art of champagne, quick wit, perfectly timed shade, all while making it really look effortless. Now, 20 seasons into the show that started at all. I know you came in at season seven, but how are you feeling about the 20th season of The Real Housewives of Orange County? What an accomplishment.

Heather Dubrow (0:49)

I mean, first of all, how incredible to be a part of pop culture history like this.

Daryn Carp (0:55)

Majorly.

Heather Dubrow (0:55)

Major. And I started the show 15 years ago.

Daryn Carp (0:58)

Yeah.

Heather Dubrow (0:59)

Because Ace was nine months old.

And he's driving now. Yeah. He'll be 16 in December. It's so crazy. And of course, I left for four seasons in the middle and came back. But being a part of this for 15 years is, it's so, who knew I would be on for this long, and I'd leave, and who knew I'd come back, and who knew I'd still be here. But I am so incredibly grateful for this, for all of it. I mean, even, it's a really hard show to do. It really is. It's hard to put your life out there. It's hard to be judged. It's hard to listen to people's opinions. It's hard to be accountable for things that you've done and said that you feel bad about, all those things. But, I mean, the stuff it's done for our family.

Daryn Carp (1:44)

The home videos of just having, like, ace on camera from nine months to 16, whatever that math is, is pretty incredible.

Heather Dubrow (1:52)

It's amazing. Watching all the kids grow up and seeing all of our friendships and everything.

Daryn Carp (1:58)

When you left for four seasons, did you, after season 11, did you think you were going to come back?

Heather Dubrow (2:05)

No.

Daryn Carp (2:06)

You put it behind you.

Heather Dubrow (2:07)

I did. And I thought I left really well.

Daryn Carp (2:10)

Yeah.

Heather Dubrow (2:11)

You know, really good terms with everyone. It was a very smooth transition. And, you know, Alex Baskin and I have been friends for like 100 years. So we remained friends and still, you know, went out to dinner all the time and, you know, pitched other shows together and all that kind of thing.

And I always said, never say never, because who knows? But when they called, you know, I left. You know, I was like, why would I do that?

Daryn Carp (2:40)

And?

Heather Dubrow (2:40)

How long did it take to convince you? I don't know. I feel like maybe we've talked about this before, but I just thought, OK, maybe I can use the platform for good. And maybe I can start conversations in other people's families by showing my really normal family.

Daryn Carp (2:56)

You do have a really normal family that genuinely likes each other and wants to spend time together.

Heather Dubrow (3:01)

Definitely. But, you know, we have different genders, different sexualities, different ages and different personalities and how we all blend together. And we're, you know, these two parents who have been together the whole time and, you know, raising all these kids and they're all different. And the way we parent and the way we've learned and what's amazing to me, you know, and I feel like we've been able to do that even to, you know, a small, in a small way and the work we've done with the Trevor Project and GLAAD and HRC. Like, I'm so proud of all of that.

Daryn Carp (3:35)

You've always been very philanthropic. You and Terry both have really led with that, I think, you know.

You left the show, you came back. What has been the biggest difference between the Heather then and the Heather now?

Heather Dubrow (3:49)

I think this is so crazy because I'm never relaxed, but I think I'm more relaxed.

Daryn Carp (3:55)

You're a little bit calmer or?