Overview of Not Skinny But Not Fat with Jeff Lewis
Amanda Hirsch sits down with Jeff Lewis for a candid, funny, and surprisingly warm conversation centered on his return to Bravo with Still Flipping Out, the success of Jeff Lewis Live and his “chumps,” his management style, his relationships with Bravo personalities, and even his recent health concerns. What begins with Amanda admitting she felt intimidated by him turns into a conversation that shows Jeff as sharp and snarky, but also generous, self-aware, and deeply appreciative of the people around him.
Jeff Lewis’ Return to Bravo
Still Flipping Out and the Bravo comeback
- Jeff talks about being excited to be back on Bravo after years away.
- He explains that the new show is meant to function almost like an “eight-hour commercial” for his radio show, Jeff Lewis Live.
- He says the show’s structure is more documentary-style than a traditional reality show, which took some adjusting.
Why the return matters
- Jeff says his success is not tied to any one person, even though fans once felt the opposite.
- He reflects on his time away from Bravo, including his Amazon show Hollywood Houselift, and says he’s grateful for the platform Bravo gave him.
Jeff’s Work Style, Team, and Leadership
He rewards competence
- Jeff makes it clear that he pays well and takes care of people who are good at their jobs.
- He praises employees like Shane and Kian as reliable, strong members of his team.
- He jokes that Shane is essentially his “chief of staff,” and the relationship is so close it’s almost codependent.
Boundaries and loyalty
- Jeff repeatedly returns to the idea that he values competence, loyalty, and humor.
- He says he can be intense, but if someone can do the job and keep up, he’s easy to work with.
- He also admits that the people who don’t fit usually struggle because they take his teasing too personally.
Money, Babysitters, and Public Backlash
The viral babysitter comment
- Amanda brings up the comment Jeff made about Andy Cohen’s babysitter salary, which went viral.
- Jeff says he believes good help should be paid well and admits he is generous with people he trusts.
- He clarifies that he’s willing to pay for quality, especially when it comes to childcare and household help.
Spending on staff
- He says he once racked up massive food bills for employees because they were ordering too much and taking food home.
- He admits he had to rein in spending after noticing the issue.
- He also talks about paying for flights, premium economy/business class, and how expensive travel has become.
Relationships, Feuds, and Reconciliations
Andy Cohen
- Jeff describes Andy as both his boss and longtime friend.
- He says their relationship works because they can joke around, but he has learned not to push too far.
- He also says Andy can be more sensitive than people realize, so he has to be careful with certain jokes.
Heather McDonald and Jenni Pulos
- Jeff reflects on his past falling outs, saying sometimes he shares blame and sometimes he does not.
- On Jenni Pulos, he says the split happened after she started believing her own hype.
- On Heather McDonald, he says both sides contributed to their fallout, but he’s more open now to acknowledging his role when he was wrong.
Annie and other staff drama
- Jeff discusses whether he’d bring back a former staffer, Annie, saying he misses her but would need major boundaries and better performance.
- He says he enjoys banter and teasing, but people who are too fragile or defensive don’t last long in his world.
Pop Culture and Bravo Opinions
Housewives and Bravo TV
- Jeff shares that he watches a lot more Bravo now because of his radio show.
- He’s especially into the New York and Potomac franchises.
- He weighs in on Jessel’s controversial Carolyn Bessette question and says it was awkward and inappropriate, but probably not malicious.
Watching the fandom and haters
- Jeff says he no longer reads comments or lets online criticism affect him.
- He explains that after years in reality TV, he’s developed a thick skin.
- He says the more public he became, the less he cared what strangers thought.
Health and Personal Updates
Heart issues and testosterone mishap
- Jeff reveals he overdosed on testosterone because he wasn’t keeping up with follow-up bloodwork.
- He says that may have contributed to an irregular heartbeat and upcoming cardioversion.
- He also mentions needing to get his appendix removed.
Prenuvo scan discovery
- He describes using Prenuvo scans and says they found both a herniated disc and his heart issue.
- He strongly endorses preventative scans, saying a friend even found cancer through one.
- His point: early detection can genuinely save lives.
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Lewis is much softer and more generous than his reputation suggests.
- His humor is built on teasing, sarcasm, and a strong tolerance for shade.
- He values loyal, competent people and pays attention to how hard others work.
- He has a complicated but respectful relationship with Andy Cohen and Bravo.
- He’s learned not to take internet hate personally.
- He’s dealing with real health issues and is taking them seriously.
Memorable Insight
- Jeff’s core philosophy: if someone is loyal and good at their job, he’ll take care of them; if not, he’ll eventually reach his limit.
- Amanda’s closing takeaway is emotional and simple: if you’re thinking something kind about someone, tell them.