Overview of A Dingbat Chat with Jessel Taank
In this episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat, Amanda Hirsch opens with a personal update on a wild, three-hour documentary she saw in theaters, then shares a quick story about a surprisingly accurate “soul reader” reading before diving into a lively, deeply candid conversation with Real Housewives of New York star Jessel Taank. The interview covers Jessel’s marriage, fertility journey, body changes after kids, life moves from New York to Dallas and back, and the on-camera drama driving the current RHONY season.
Amanda’s Opening Thoughts
The documentary review
Amanda raves about a shocking, funny, and cringeworthy documentary focused on Elizabeth Holmes, saying it was one of those rare movie experiences where the audience gasped, laughed, and cringed together.
- She was especially struck by:
- Amanda Seyfried appearing later in the film to reenact scenes.
- The portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes’ husband, Billy, whom she describes as controlling and unsettling.
- The movie’s ability to keep viewers hooked for three hours.
The soul reader story
Amanda also recounts a recent reading that felt eerily accurate:
- The reader guessed personal details through numbers and energy.
- Amanda was shocked when the number “4” turned out to connect to her mother’s birthday.
- The reading said Amanda energetically gives off “three kids” energy, which amused her.
- Her takeaway: the experience was fascinating, but mostly for the “wow” factor rather than actionable insight.
Jessel Taank on Life, Marriage, and Motherhood
Her marriage to Pavit
Jessel explains how she and Pavit started as friends and roommates in New York before turning romantic.
- They originally met through a mutual friend who thought they’d hit it off.
- Jessel says Pavit didn’t seem immediately warm or flirtatious, so she assumed he wasn’t interested.
- Her mother helped her realize he was serious about her, which led Jessel to make the first move.
Having twins through IVF
Jessel shares the story of conceiving twins by transferring two embryos.
- She says she had been trying for about two years.
- Her doctor required a waiver because twins are a high-risk pregnancy.
- Her hormone levels were so high after the transfer that she briefly feared she might be pregnant with triplets.
- She and Pavit now have twin boys, and she says she’s done having kids.
Why she’s done
Her decision not to have a third child comes down to a mix of practical and emotional reasons:
- Twin parenting is expensive and intense.
- Going from four to five feels logistically hard.
- She still has embryos in storage, which adds another layer of decision-making.
- She admits she once wanted a girl, but doesn’t want to have another child solely to “try for a gender.”
Body Image, Hair, and Confidence
Post-baby body changes
Jessel and Amanda talk honestly about how pregnancy changed their bodies.
- Jessel says her boobs lost density and now feel softer and less firm.
- Amanda relates, talking about how bodies can shift after kids.
- Jessel says she’s considered a reduction, though not urgently.
The confessional bangs regret
One of the funniest parts of the interview is Jessel’s confession that she hated her bangs look in confessional.
- Her hairstylist suggested a chic French-inspired bang.
- Once she saw herself in the chair, she realized it looked more like “Dr. Spock” than chic.
- The worst part: she had to wear the same look across multiple filming days for continuity.
- She jokes that the bad haircut brought out a sassier, meaner alter ego.
RHONY Drama and Season Analysis
Why this season feels stronger
Jessel says she felt confident going into filming because the cast chemistry was better and the ensemble felt more balanced.
- She believes the reboot needed time to settle.
- She thinks the audience finally knows the cast members better.
- She describes the season as “meaty” and says the feedback has been much more positive.
Her dynamic with Erin
A big chunk of the conversation focuses on Jessel’s ongoing tension with Erin.
- Jessel initially believed she and Erin were in a good place.
- She says Erin had been kind and supportive after both women lost their fathers.
- Then Jessel heard that Erin had been saying negative things about her behind her back.
- Jessel felt especially betrayed because Erin would text her with concern while allegedly speaking badly about her elsewhere.
- Jessel says the main issue is not one insult, but the feeling that Erin is two-faced and avoids direct accountability.
The “dingbat” / Carolyn Bessette conversation
Amanda asks about the now-viral “dingbat” moment involving Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
- Jessel says she was hyperfocused and not reading the room.
- She was trying to explain her point and defend what she was saying.
- Looking back, she admits she should have simply apologized and moved on.
- She says the scene was “ditzy,” but not malicious.
The popcorn ceiling incident
Jessel also addresses the backlash over her joke about Daisy’s popcorn ceiling.
- She says Daisy had brought it up before, so she thought it was fair game.
- She assumed everyone would laugh about it.
- Jessel says she truly did not expect the audience to react so strongly.
- Her point: she wasn’t trying to mock Daisy’s apartment, and she would not have brought it up if Daisy hadn’t already mentioned it.
Friendship, Loyalty, and the Cast
On Sai
Jessel says Sai is a trusted friend now.
- Their relationship took time to build.
- Jessel describes Sai as kind, funny, and loyal once you’re in her circle.
- She says Sai has become someone she fully trusts.
On Erin’s rumor about her husband
The biggest escalation in the episode is the rumor Jessel says Erin kept hinting at.
- Jessel says Erin warned her about a blind item and claimed not to know the details.
- Jessel later learned Erin had, in fact, heard and repeated more than she admitted.
- The rumor implied something scandalous about Pavit and was framed as something that could “ruin” Jessel’s family.
- Jessel says the allegation was upsetting, but also absurd given that it does not match her husband’s character.
- She feels the intent was to dangle information and weaponize it rather than resolve anything honestly.
On Hailey
Jessel says Hailey surprised her in a good way.
- She expected Hailey to be the problem because of her public reputation.
- Instead, she found her fun, harmless, and more goofy than malicious.
- Jessel describes her as comedic relief rather than a villain.
Key Takeaways
- Jessel is more self-aware and candid than the “villain” label suggests.
- Her biggest RHONY issue is not conflict itself, but dishonesty and mixed signals.
- She sees loyalty as the defining trait in her friendships.
- She feels this season works because the cast is messy in a balanced, entertaining way.
- Her personal life is stable: she’s happy in her marriage, finished having kids, and comfortable with her current phase of life.
Notable Moments
- Amanda’s enthusiastic review of the Elizabeth Holmes documentary.
- Jessel admitting she regretted her confessional bangs immediately.
- The “dingbat” and “popcorn ceiling” moments becoming bigger than she expected.
- Jessel saying she would trust Erica and Sai with major secrets.
- Her blunt conclusion that a third baby would need to be wanted for the right reasons, not just because she wants a girl.