Scheana Shay reacted to Rachel “Raquel” Leviss‘ announcement regarding the end of her podcast, Rachel Goes Rogue, while appearing on a podcast on Wednesday.
After Raquel, 30, revealed last week that her show, which premiered in January, would be coming to an end so that she could focus on a “more balanced and healthier life,” the 39-year-old Vanderpump Rules star admitted that she never anticipated that the podcast would last very long.
“I’m surprised it took this long,” Scheana said on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast on October 23 after being asked about Raquel’s decision to walk away from the broadcast.
As Pump Rules fans may have seen, Raquel confirmed the end of Rachel Goes Rogue during the October 17 episode of the series.
“I’ve made the decision to take both feet out of the Vanderpump Rules universe and focus on myself, focus on my life, my healing,” she shared. “I have decided to walk away from continuing the podcast because I would like to move on from having one foot in the door of Vanderpump Rules and one foot out.”
Raquel launched the podcast earlier this year in an apparent effort to voice her side of “Scandoval,” which saw the exposure of her months-long affair with Tom Sandoval, 43. And according to Scheana, she understood Raquel wanting to be heard.
“Here’s the thing: I believe everyone should have a voice and be able to get their side of the story out and that was her way of doing it, so good for her,” she admitted. “I did not see longevity in this podcast when it started, and I was actually surprised that it went on for 60-something episodes. So good for her for being able to do it for that long.”
While Scheana and Raquel were once close, Scheana ended their friendship immediately after learning that Sandoval had cheated on Ariana Madix, 39, with her.
“It’s not easy. People think, ‘Oh, I’m gonna start a podcast,’ and it actually takes a lot of work,” continued Scheana, who has hosted her own podcast, Scheananigans, for the past six years. “And still, my heart races before every interview. I get nervous even [recording my solo episodes]. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m getting out of breath.’ It’s not easy.”
“For anyone who thinks, ‘I’m just gonna start a podcast,’ there’s a lot of work that goes into it if you want to make it successful and actually pay the bills with it,” she added.
Vanderpump Rules is on pause ahead of its 12th season.