Right Answers Mostly

Frida Kahlo & The Art of Suffering 08.06.2026 1h 18min

RE-RELEASE for Pride Month! We dive deep into the life and work of Frida Kahlo, the fearless woman who endured pain, tragedy, and even a tumultuous love life. We'll explore how her self-portraits captured both her physical and emotional pain, and how her work challenged the dominant artistic traditions of her time. From her early struggles as a young artist to her rise as a feminist icon, Claire and Tess cover all the juicy details of Frida's life. This is Frida Kahlo, a queer, feminist icon!. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us here to learn more about us, get merch, and check us out on socials Join Premium for $7.99/month for three bonus episodes a month here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Cohen And The Real History of Bravo 01.06.2026 1h 4min

RE-RELEASE EPISODE: We're kicking off pride month with the king of Bravo and the king of our hearts, Andy Cohen. We know Andy as the father of the Real Housewives but in this episode we find out about his idyllic childhood in St. Louis, MO and how his love of soap operas were unknowingly prepping him for all things Housewives. We talk about Andy's extensive career as a producer/journalist at CBS before rising the ranks at Bravo and we delve into the personal life of Andy Cohen and the challenges he has faced along the way. From navigating his identity as an openly gay man in the media industry to becoming a father through surrogacy, we explore the impact of his personal experiences on his career and the broader cultural landscape. This is Andy Cohen. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Rightanswersmostly⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Rightanswersmostly⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on socials, and check out merch here! If you want to join our premium channel for THREE bonus episodes a month, check out all of the perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dark Side of Coco Chanel 25.05.2026 42min

This week, we unravel the myth of Coco Chanel, the woman who revolutionized women’s fashion, built one of the most powerful luxury empires in history, and carefully crafted herself into a feminist icon. But behind the pearls, perfume, and little black dresses was a much darker story. From poverty and ambition to affairs with powerful men, antisemitism, Nazi collaboration allegations, and the reinvention of her own legacy, we explore how Coco Chanel became both a symbol of female freedom and one of fashion’s most controversial figures. Was she a visionary? A social climber? A survivor? A villain? Maybe all four. Grab a cigarette and your tweed blazer, because this one is messy. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald If you want the full episode, and to get THREE bonus episodes a month, go here. Follow us on socials, buy merch, and stay updated here! Sources: Chanel Unbuttoned BBC, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christian Dior: Couture, Scandal & The New Look 18.05.2026 1h 7min

This week, we’re discussing the extraordinary history of Christian Dior and the designer who reshaped fashion forever. From the devastation of post WW2 Paris to the revolutionary debut of the “New Look” in 1947, Christian Dior created a vision of glamour, femininity, and fantasy that transformed the fashion industry forver. We explore Dior’s early life, World War II, couture during occupation, the rise of the House of Dior, the evolution of luxury branding, and the legacy that still defines fashion today. From couture salons to celebrity campaigns, this is the story of how Christian Dior became CHRISTIAN DIOR. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! SOURCES: Vogue , Vogue on Christian Dior , The New Look, Wikipedia , Glam Observer , Time, The Independent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Klein: Underwear, Supermodels, and Scandal 11.05.2026 54min

Before Calvin Klein, underwear was something your mom bought in a three pack. After him? It was a personality. This week, we’re getting into the story of Calvin Klein, how a kid from the Bronx turned “clean and simple” into one of the most powerful fashion brands in the world. We’re talking jeans that made millions in a week, ads that changed culture, and the women who defined the look (and the vibe). Plus: the Kelly Rector influence, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s quiet takeover of the aesthetic, and the business missteps that almost took the whole empire down. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM and to learn about us, go here! If you are interested in THREE bonus episodes a month (pop culture, our own personal lives, and the full history episode at the end of the month) go here! only $7.99/month or save 13% when you buy annually! Thanks to Bellesa for sponsoring today's episode!EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibe™ OR a FREE Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/rightanswersmostly-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the Met Gala: How Anna Wintour Runs Fashion’s Biggest Night 04.05.2026 1h

This week, we’re diving into the history of the Met Gala, from its origins as a high-society fundraiser to the global spectacle it is today. We break down how the event transformed under icons like Diana Vreeland and Anna Wintour, and how it became fashion’s biggest (and most chaotic) night.Of course, we had to get into the drama. From the infamous Solange–Jay-Z elevator incident to celebs getting caught breaking the rules, we’re unpacking the night's biggest scandalsWe also share our favorite looks of all time, plus why this year’s Met Gala is sparking so much conversation, and controversy, across fashion and pop culture.Whether you watch for the fashion, the history, or the chaos…this is your ultimate guide to the Met Gala! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Vogue, The First Monday in May , Time, NYTimes, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jean Harlow: Dye Hard Blonde 27.04.2026 37min

Before Marilyn, there was Jean. In this episode, we dive into the dazzling, and devastating, life of Jean Harlow, Hollywood’s original platinum blonde bombshell. (Wait until you hear how she achieved this look and you'll say thank you to your hair dresser next time..) From her meteoric rise to stardom to the image that redefined beauty, Harlow was truly to “dye” for. But behind the peroxide glow was a story of pressure, scandal, and a life cut far too short. Glamour, grit, and a legacy that still shines, this is Jean Harlow like you’ve never heard before. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here This is a premium full episode. If you want to hear the full version, sign up here for $7.99/month for THREE bonus episodes, one that is the full history every month. You won't regret it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

River Phoenix: Hollywood’s Lost Star 20.04.2026 1h 24min

River Phoenix was everything Hollywood wanted: talented, magnetic, and deeply beloved. So how did it all go so wrong? Joined by friend of the pod Hannah Aaron Brown, we unpack the life and tragic death of River Phoenix, from his unconventional upbringing and rapid rise to fame, to the pressures, people, and environment that surrounded him in his final years. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Follow Hannah on TikTok and Instagram and Listen to her podcast, Not Apsirational! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anna Nicole Smith: The Blonde Bombshell Hollywood Broke 13.04.2026 1h 23min

Anna Nicole Smith: A woman who went from small-town Texas to Playboy Playmate, Guess model, and reality TV star , becoming one of the most famous women in the world along the way. But behind the blonde bombshell image was a more complicated story: a whirlwind marriage to an 89-year-old oil tycoon, a never-ending legal battle over his fortune, and a media frenzy that turned her life into spectacle. This week, we’re diving into the rise, the chaos, and the tragedy of Anna Nicole Smith- a woman that was built up by Hollywood only to relish in watching her fall. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Buzzfeed , Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Interview Magazine, People Magazine, You're Wrong About Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany Murphy: What Really Happened? 06.04.2026 1h 2min

Brittany Murphy was one of the most beloved stars of the 2000s: funny, talented, and endlessly watchable. So when she died suddenly at just 32, the story shocked Hollywood. But the more you look into it… the more questions there are. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down Brittany Murphy’s rise to fame, the intense scrutiny she faced, and the details surrounding her death, from official reports to the rumors that followed. What was really going on behind the scenes? Did her husband, Simon really have something to do with it? And why does her story still feel unresolved? TW: this story contains many conversations around eating disorders. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! If you want to join our premium subscription where you get THREE bonus episodes a month, sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josephine Baker: Spy, It Girl, and Revolutionary 30.03.2026 45min

Josephine Baker: a woman who escaped poverty, danced her way to fame, became the most famous woman in Paris, and then, plot twist, served as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II. And when the war ended, she didn’t slow down, she took that same power into the fight for civil rights, refusing to play by America’s rules. A story that sounds like fiction, but Josephine Baker did all of that, and more. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: New Yorker, https://glreview.org/article/article-959/, PBS , CIA.gov, Vogue, Ebony, Biography.com, Harpers Bazaar , Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mothers of Modern Gynecology 23.03.2026 1h 2min

For most of human history, childbirth belonged to women. Midwives guided mothers through labor, cared for newborns, and held generations of medical knowledge within their communities. But over time, birth moved from homes to hospitals, and from the hands of women to the authority of male physicians. In this episode, we explore the hidden history of childbirth, the rise of modern gynecology, and the women whose bodies shaped the field but whose names were nearly erased from it. At the center of this story are three enslaved women in the 1840s American South: Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy. Suffering from a devastating childbirth injury, they were subjected to years of experimental surgeries by physician J. Marion Sims, procedures performed without anesthesia or the ability to consent. Sims would later be celebrated as the “father of modern gynecology,” but the medical advancements credited to him were built on the pain, endurance, and forced labor of these women. We also trace the overlooked legacy of Black midwives, who for generations were the backbone of maternal healthcare in the United States. Once trusted community leaders and healers, they were gradually pushed out of medicine as childbirth became increasingly medicalized and controlled by white male physicians. Trigger Warning: This section of the episode addresses scientific experimentation on enslaved women and violation of their bodies. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! If you're interested in our premium channel for THREE bonus episodes for $7.99/month. Get added to close friends, hear about pop culture, and get to know us more! You also get the last FULL history episode here! HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shonda Rhimes: The Woman Who Changed Television 16.03.2026 1h 16min

This week we’re diving into the story of Shonda Rhimes, the woman who completely changed television. Before Rhimes, network TV rarely centered complicated women, diverse casts, or stories about power, ambition, sexuality, and work told from a female perspective. From Grey’s Anatomy to Scandal to Bridgerton, Rhimes built an empire by telling the kinds of stories about women that television had long ignored. We talk about her early life, how she broke into Hollywood, the rise of Shondaland, and how she reshaped what television looks like, and who gets to be the main character. This is Shonda Rhimes! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Television Academy , Vice, Wbur, Oprah.com, Theboar.org, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Wikipedia, Call Her Daddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hilary Duff Is Just a Girl 09.03.2026 1h 20min

Before she was a pop girl, a tabloid headline, or the blueprint for millennial style, Hilary Duff was just a kid from Texas with a big dream and a head voice that would become weirdly controversial. This week on Right Answers Mostly, we’re diving into the full Hilary Duff story: from early auditions to becoming Disney Channel’s most relatable star on Lizzie McGuire. We talk about the cultural earthquake of Metamorphosis, the chaos of early 2000s tabloid culture, public breakups, and why she was constantly compared to women she was never trying to be. But more than that, we explore why Hilary always felt different. She wasn’t the strongest singer. She wasn’t the most provocative. She didn’t reinvent pop music. And yet...she endured. From A Cinderella Story to her pop reinventions, to quietly building a stable career in shows like Younger, Hilary carved out something radical: longevity without spectacle. While other young women were chewed up by fame, she chose steadiness. We unpack the sexism around her voice, the pressure on teen girls to be “effortlessly exceptional,” and why Hilary Duff’s greatest strength might be that she always let us see her trying. Not perfect, but just trying. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, get to know us here If you like us and are interested in our premium channel in which you get THREE bonus episodes a month for $7.99 (many other perks included) go here Intersted in Tess's writing? Subscribe to her medium for pieces around feminism and pop culture! Sources include: The Twisted World of Hilary Duff Deep Dive, Wikipedia & People Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joan Didion: The Writer Who Defined California Cool 02.03.2026 1h 7min

We are kicking off Women's History Month with the one and only, Joan Didion. Before she became one of the most iconic writers of the 20th century, Joan Didion was just a quiet, observant girl from Sacramento who would go on to capture the myth and emotional reality of American life. From her early days at Vogue to her life in Hollywood and her marriage to fellow writer John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion wasn’t just participating in the culture. She was observing and documenting it. In this episode, we explore how Joan Didion became a literary icon, how she cultivated the persona of the ultimate cool girl, and why her writing captured the emotional reality behind America’s myths. Welcome to Women's History Month! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more HERE! Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! SOURCES: Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, The Guardian , Vanity Fair, What She Means, Vogue, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jackie Kennedy and the Cost of Marriage 23.02.2026 46min

John and Jackie Kennedy weren’t just a couple, they were a brand. In this episode, we break down their upbringings, the expectations that shaped their marriage, and why Jackie Kennedy became the emotional and public backbone of Camelot. From JFK’s affairs to the carefully curated image America consumed, we explore how Jackie wasn’t living a fairytale, she was performing one. TW: Birthing trauma and child loss Produced and created by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! Main feed gets a preview but our premium subscribers get a full 90 minute episode which goes more into the affairs, Marilyn Monroe, and the end of Jackie's life. Please consider supporting our show here and purchasing for $7.99/month or save 13% when purchased annually! You get THREE bonus episodes, one of them being a full history. Sources include the following: Even the Rich Podcast, Vanity Fair, Wikipedia Town & Country, People Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kennedy Month on Right Answers Mostly: The Dynasty, The Drama, The Curse 20.02.2026 2min

If you love history and gossip, this one's for you! All February we're covering all things Kennedy- the making of the dynasty, the curse that followed them, and the romances, affairs, and scandals behind the scenes...we're mentioning it all, because history is just gossip! Subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts and share with your friends so we can gab together! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Kennedy Curse 16.02.2026 1h 10min

“I’ve come to believe that it’s not what has happened to our family that has been cursed—it’s the fact that we’ve never been able to deal with it privately.” — Eunice Kennedy Shriver The idea of the “Kennedy Curse” has followed this family for generations, often explained away as bad luck or fate. But the truth is more complicated. In this episode, we explore how constant public scrutiny, enormous expectations, and a deep resistance to vulnerability shaped the Kennedy family’s most painful moments, especially in the case of Rosemary Kennedy, whose lobotomy reflects how fear, misunderstanding, and the pressure to protect an image could lead to irreversible decisions. Rather than a story about a doomed bloodline, this episode looks at how power, silence, and the denial of privacy shaped one of America’s most famous families, and why those choices continued to ripple outward long after they were made. This is The Kennedy Curse. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys, People, Historyextra.com, Rosemary's Wiki, NPS.Gov, Kathleen's Wiki, Historytoday.com, Chappaquiddick Wiki, People article #2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hot People, Bad Match: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette 09.02.2026 1h 6min

Before they were a symbol of 90s perfection, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were shaped by very different kinds of pressure. John grew up inside America’s most mythologized family, raised in public grief and constant expectation. Carolyn came from outside the dynasty, building her life on privacy, control, and impeccable restraint. When they fell in love, it looked like fate. What followed was something far messier. In this episode, we trace how fame became a third partner, how obsession was mistaken for romance, and how one of the most aestheticized couples in modern history quietly unraveled, ending in tragedy. Because Camelot 2.0 wasn’t just glamorous. It was toxic, suffocating, and devastatingly human. Produced and created by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more RAM, check us out here! If you're interested in our THREE bonus eps a month for $7.99, go here Sources include: Wikipedia, Vanity Fair, People, and the podcast Significant Lovers If you or someone you know is struggling with addition you can get help by calling 988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Kennedy Dynasty: Welcome to Camelot 02.02.2026 1h 10min

Welcome to Kennedys Month at Right Answers Mostly. We’re kicking things off at the very beginning: the building of the Kennedy dynasty and the man behind it all, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.. The Kennedy story begins with famine in Ireland, and a risky escape to Boston, Massachusetts. We unpack how Juicy Joe built his fortune, pulled the strings behind the scenes, and paved the way for his sons, most famously John F. Kennedy, to enter politics. Was it clean? Not exactly. Was it effective? Absolutely. From backroom deals to carefully crafted public images, this is the origin story of how the Kennedys didn’t just enter American politics, they conquered it, and sealed their place as American royalty. THIS IS THE KENNEDY DYNASTY! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys , NPS.gov, Wikipedia, altaonline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices