00:00:01
Speaker 1: Hey guys and welcome back to another episode of Casual Chaos. Today I'm sitting down with someone who just survived one of the hardest things that I think she will ever do in her life. Alexia Umansky. Alexia is a real estate agent on Buying Beverly Hills, a housewife kid just like me, Kyle Richards' daughter, and she just put herself through special forces. The same show that I did last season. Alexia, welcome to Casual Chaos.
00:00:26
Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. I can't believe this is the first time we're meeting.
00:00:29
Speaker 1: I know, I know.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: We've spoken, but this is a big deal.
00:00:33
Speaker 1: This is a big deal. And our moms just did Ultimate Girls Trip together, even though they've crossed paths so many times.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: But it's like the best season. It is so much fun. And your mom is such a doll. I can't get over her.
00:00:46
Speaker 1: And both of our moms, I just feel like they connect because we have the four girls.
00:00:49
Speaker 2: Exactly. We have a lot in common.
00:00:52
Speaker 1: A lot in common.
00:00:53
Speaker 2: It's kind of crazy.
00:00:54
Speaker 1: So much to talk about. But, okay, first thing that I have to know, now that you've done Special Forces, was it everything that you expected or not at all?
00:01:06
Speaker 2: You know, you think you can prepare yourself. I watched your season. You think you can set up a certain expectation, but there's nothing there. that prepares you for that kind of heat, that kind of discomfort, that kind of fear. I mean, the way my legs trembled. I've never had that kind of sensation in my entire life. And also just the way you instantly connect with the group of people around you. I mean, the way we were just, episode one, it's like literally just me in my underwear in front of all these people I've never met before. And my mom's like, what's wrong with you? I'm like, that's... There was no other choice.
00:01:44
Speaker 1: When they tell you to strip, you need to strip.
00:01:46
Speaker 2: Exactly. They tell you and then it's just suddenly everything changes. It's not normal life over there.
00:01:51
Speaker 1: Do you want to know the funniest thing? So my season last year, Jessie James Decker, when they told us to get into our uniform, she took off her shirt. She forgot to put on a bra.
00:02:00
Speaker 2: No. What do you mean she took off her shirt?
00:02:03
Speaker 1: No, like, yeah.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: Boobs were out?
00:02:05
Speaker 1: Boobs were out. I mean, thank God she has really nice boobs.
00:02:09
Speaker 2: No.
00:02:10
Speaker 1: I mean, the DS got a show for sure. For sure.
00:02:13
Speaker 2: They didn't show that, did they? No. That is hilarious.
00:02:17
Speaker 1: But she talked about it in press and talked about it afterwards. But it was funny because they separate you. I watched the first episode. Did they separate you guys into two groups?
00:02:25
Speaker 2: Yes. Sort of, yeah. It was kind of confusing because we got our heads sacked, whatever.
00:02:31
Speaker 1: You call it. Yes, but you weren't with your dad when they were first asking you and introducing you guys and asking you who you were.
00:02:38
Speaker 2: No, we were. I was next to my dad. They kind of lined us up in our number. He was 14, I was 15. Oh, okay.
00:02:43
Speaker 1: See, they separated my mom and I.
00:02:45
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a little different. We were all put into cars. We weren't supposed to know who we were with, so it was like two groups put into cars. I knew I was in the car with my dad, though, because I know his breathing, but we were all silent. For an hour and a half with those socks on our heads. It was kind of crazy. They don't show how long you're covered for.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: No, they do not. And just everything, even during the challenges and stuff. Even though we were doing it and we were in it, the episodes, they're condensed into 40-minute episodes. So it's so hard to really show everything. It's crazy. But I feel like it does not even.
00:03:22
Speaker 2: No, it doesn't scratch the surface. Someone asked me, they watched episode one. They're like, is it really that hard? I'm like, it's harder. Like that's literally the tiniest fragment of the entire day that we had. It was the longest days. And there's so much they don't show, like the punishments. I mean, I guess they kind of showed it on Instagram later. But I mean, if we looked around, no fidgeting, we weren't allowed to wipe our sweat. I don't My sweaty upper lip was insane. And I wasn't allowed to wipe. I was so petrified of what was going to happen. So they just don't show so much of the fear they instill in you.
00:03:57
Speaker 1: No, especially in the beginning, for sure. But what was your first reaction when they charged into, I can't believe you guys were also by a pool lounging.
00:04:09
Speaker 2: I know.
00:04:11
Speaker 1: You guys just, you really were fooled because that was only the start. We kind of knew it was different because we boarded a bus and we knew we were about to go in. Yeah. And it was, you know, kind of a dingy school bus. We knew that we were about to go into what was going to be hell. Yeah, you were on your way.
00:04:32
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:04:35
Speaker 1: You guys were lounging by the pool. And that's when they came in and invaded.
00:04:39
Speaker 2: I thought we were going to get picked up in cars and have a situation like you guys. I thought we were going to get into cars. We were chilling. We were so comfortable getting to schmooze. I was like, this is unique. I thought maybe because we had a couple real estate people on the season. I was like, wow, they're promoting some mansion. This is cool. I did not expect them to bust in like that. First reaction was just... It went from a nice luxurious little social moment to just heart beating in silence. Everyone went stone cold. It was intense.
00:05:16
Speaker 1: It's so intense.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: It's like a storm rolls over and everything changes. Oh, yeah.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: It's like you really do feel like you're being taken.
00:05:24
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. Like full blown kidnap mode.
00:05:27
Speaker 1: So we did speak before you went into Special Forces. Be honest. Did any of my advice actually hold up when you were in there?
00:05:35
Speaker 2: Yes, it did. It's actually so funny because I have– I don't even know if you know, but I was, like, taking notes. And I looked at my notepad the other day, and it says, phone call with Gia. Heart, heart, heart, heart. And it's just, like, all the little– I wish I kind of, like, memorized some of them. But you really– It's more just like the reassuring. It was like a hug through the phone. Hearing it from you. I said in another interview, you have such a maternal vibe to you. And you're younger than me. But I was like, hearing it from her, I just felt like everything was going to be okay. You said it was hard. It was absolutely hard. You did not sell it short. You're like, it is absolutely difficult. And I kind of liked hearing that. It helped me prepare a certain expectation for But knowing that you made it to the end was so, you know, it made me feel like anything is possible, you know?
00:06:32
Speaker 1: Definitely.
00:06:32
Speaker 2: Little girls like us.
00:06:35
Speaker 1: Come on. This is why they cannot underestimate the underdogs. I mean, and it is a little intimidating. I felt it as well. You're walking into a room with NBA players, NFL players, Olympians, like athletes, and you're there like, whoa, I don't know if I can do this. But I feel like you'll, obviously you learned as the course went on. What did you feel like was more challenging, the physical aspect of it or the mental aspect?
00:07:05
Speaker 2: For me, it was totally the physical. I mean, I think I'm very strong. My mind is very strong. I'm so emotional. Don't get me wrong. I cry every single day. But I'm not the most strong in terms of, you know, muscle. I do some Pilates like maybe once a week. And without the help of our team, you know, we really went in with that team mentality. So many people helped me lift things and pushed me. And I could not have made it through without, you know, Candice Bure is so much stronger than you would think she is. I mean, we were lifting sandbags. I couldn't even get the sandbags over my head. Everyone helped me so much. And that's so much of what the military is like, is helping each other through. And I think it's important to highlight that the show is not a competition. You actually get through by supporting each other and helping each other. And everyone's like, who wins? And it's not about who wins. And my dad said it perfectly. You're really only against yourself.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: 100%. What was the single hardest moment for you out there?
00:08:17
Speaker 2: The single hardest moment. I'm like trying to think of in terms of the actual challenges.
00:08:29
Speaker 1: Or was it even being away from your family? I think.
00:08:34
Speaker 2: Well, being away from my family was difficult. Anytime anyone brought up my mom, I would just immediately start crying. No. I'm like, what's wrong with you? I'm like, it's just you saying my mom.
00:08:41
Speaker 1: The waterworks for me, it was ridiculous. When my mom left me on day two.
00:08:46
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. I was.
00:08:49
Speaker 1: And it was funny because I was the youngest on the course. You were too, right?
00:08:53
Speaker 2: Colin and Max, I think, were... Colin, I think, might have been the youngest.
00:08:57
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:08:58
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:08:59
Speaker 1: But still, like, we're in our 20s. We're younger. And my.
00:09:04
Speaker 1: Cast really, they were all just nurturing me because my mom left and I was like, just weeping in my little cot every single day.
00:09:13
Speaker 2: I remember you at like, she left and you're like, can I have some water? Like, no, that, that moment really stuck with me. I was like, I, I would really need a sip of water in that moment. Like that's so intense.
00:09:23
Speaker 1: Before the milling? Like, are you kidding?
00:09:25
Speaker 2: Oh my God.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: I got my ass beat.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: You know what? It honestly might've been There's two. It's kind of tied. The milling was extremely emotional for me. I learned that violence really strikes a chord for me where I had a really intense reaction I didn't expect because I've never really been in any violent situation like that. And then also the gas.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: Oh, okay.
00:09:50
Speaker 2: Gas was by far the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life.
00:09:57
Speaker 1: Really?
00:09:57
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:09:59
Speaker 1: I don't know why. I didn't get that. And I feel like some people it really affects them. I didn't feel that. I felt like my mask must have been on right because I felt like I could breathe.
00:10:12
Speaker 2: Wait, did they not rip your mask off? Because ours got ripped off. They had to. Are you serious?
00:10:18
Speaker 1: No. Yeah, we didn't get our masks ripped off. Actually, it was funny because I didn't take my mask off because I.
00:10:24
Speaker 2: Was so confused.
00:10:25
Speaker 1: I didn't know what was going on.
00:10:28
Speaker 2: I was so confused, too, by the way. I think I ripped my own mask off because I was like, I'm not waiting for them. And it was starting to come in through the mask. I was like, I'm just doing it myself. If I had known, maybe I was allowed to keep it. I probably was. And I just was like, woo, let's go.
00:10:42
Speaker 1: So I had mine on and We got outside and like we were looking outside like and we weren't enclosed in the house anymore. So we got outside and we're searching for obviously our missing person or our hostage. And it was either DSQ or DS Rudy and they look at me and they're like, Take the mask off. You're outside.
00:11:08
Speaker 2: That's so funny.
00:11:12
Speaker 1: I was like, honestly, I'm not thinking straight, clearly.
00:11:16
Speaker 2: You don't think straight. I definitely had a little dingbat moment or two where I was just like completely misunderstood the assignment. Like, sorry, I don't even know. This is a lot. I'm tired. It's too much. It really is. But you know what? We still did it.
00:11:30
Speaker 1: You did the whole thing with your dad. What made you two decide to jump into something this intense together?
00:11:37
Speaker 2: My dad and I are two peas in a pod. We do a lot of skiing together, outdoor adventures together. Him and I are just the two that do that. And now that I have a husband, he's part of our, it's become a little bit of a trio. We go on adventures together. But It just made perfect sense for the two of us. We love to explore and we love to push ourselves. And it just felt right.
00:12:04
Speaker 1: And honestly, when are you ever going to be able to say in your lifetime without really being given this opportunity that you did this with your dad?
00:12:15
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:12:15
Speaker 1: It's really cool.
00:12:17
Speaker 2: It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I think what the most important... special part of it was, is to be with real military men and be through something that so many people, I mean, it's like military hell week, right? And so many people really try so hard to get to that point when they're really training to be part of the Navy SEALs or whatever, you know, wing that they're trying to be a part of. The fact that we got to go, I got to do it with my dad and we got to experience something that so many people don't even get, get that far. And it's, I mean... I feel so incredibly blessed to have experienced something like that, and I feel like it's opened my mind so much. I always respected our veterans, but to a whole new level now.
00:13:01
Speaker 1: Right, doesn't it just, it raises the bar so high.
00:13:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, it really does. I mean, there's so much focus on the people, the recruits, but I really feel like the directing staff deserve such a big spotlight for what they do.
00:13:26
Speaker 1: Doing something that hard alongside with your dad, especially with everything that your family has been through, what did that bring up for the two of you while you were doing Special Forces?
00:13:36
Speaker 2: Hmm. You know, I feel like it was more just... What did it bring up for the two of us in terms of like, I think it was more just, it just made us stronger. I mean, obviously, I feel like you can relate. There's so many things. We grew up in a spotlight. It's absolutely crazy to have so many things about your life shown to the public world. And doing something like this is so different. You know, you're disgusting. You're scared. You're in such vulnerable positions. It was so bonding for us. And it was just so much, I don't know, it just took it to a whole new level.
00:14:24
Speaker 1: Did you have any fear? Because I know when I was doing it with my mom, I was so nervous. Just I didn't want her to get hurt. I didn't want anything to happen to her. Because you really are in these high-risk situations. Obviously, you don't plan on getting hurt. They do a great job. with ensuring all the safety precautions and making sure that we are safe, but you really don't know what to expect.
00:14:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, you never know.
00:14:48
Speaker 1: I had a hard time with that.
00:14:51
Speaker 2: You know, it's my dad, right? Our dads are protectors, and they're supposed to keep you safe from everything. And when you see your dad in a vulnerable position, I loved having my dad there. I wouldn't have switched it for anything in the world, but it was a little difficult to see him in pain. Yeah. That was challenging. I don't want to say too much. But, you know, he was even hurt before we went into the jungle. We were training in the gym a lot, trying to get a little stronger and stronger. And I think he went a little too hard in the gym. And he really hurt his bicep going into it. And he underplays his injuries all the time. But I could tell through the course that it was starting to bother him. And in my head, I don't want to, you know— say like, Hey, what's going on? Cause I want him to know I want him there, but I could tell that pain was starting to come on and it was definitely sitting heavily on my chest.
00:15:50
Speaker 1: Yeah. Your mom definitely wasn't the happiest that you two were going to go into special forces and do this show. She said that she's had sleepless nights. She wanted to kill your dad for involving you in this. Has her perspective changed now that you guys are back from doing Special Forces?
00:16:15
Speaker 2: That's a great question that she would probably answer the best. I don't know if it's changed. It's going to be a difficult show for her to watch. Episode one, you could tell she was stressed. Your body was tight watching it. It's intense. It's really intense.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: It's so intense. Just even imagine that your loved ones are doing these things. It's just that fear.
00:16:34
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:16:35
Speaker 1: And I also think that fear in a mother will probably never go away. When my mom left and I was still there in Morocco, she said she couldn't sleep. She was crying every day. And even more so because.
00:16:51
Speaker 2: She knew– That I was there.
00:16:54
Speaker 1: Yeah, like she knew exactly what was going down.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: She knew just how scary and intense it was and where you were sleeping. She knew about those toilets. She was like, my poor baby is like.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: What was your special item?
00:17:07
Speaker 2: You told me the special item, the wipes.
00:17:10
Speaker 1: You brought them?
00:17:11
Speaker 2: Yes. Are you kidding me? That was a life changer.
00:17:13
Speaker 1: How good?
00:17:14
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. Thank God.
00:17:15
Speaker 1: Because even when you couldn't shower, at least it kind of made you feel clean.
00:17:19
Speaker 2: Yes. It was a game changer.
00:17:21
Speaker 1: I love that you brought the wipes.
00:17:23
Speaker 2: Yeah. Thank you for that. That makes me so happy. Oh, my God.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: Did you see a different side of your dad that you never saw before?
00:17:31
Speaker 2: I did. I... Saw my dad. You know, my dad is my boss, and he's my dad. And he, our company, the agency, everyone calls him our fearless leader. And he absolutely was a fearless leader in this group. He really spoke to everyone and said words of wisdom to everyone. We were all so supportive of each other. But it was very interesting to see my dad in a position of not authority. You know, he was taking orders. He was being told what to do. It was... It was a new light. And you know what? It was humbling, I think, for both of us. And it was special. And I was very proud of him for handling it really well. I was curious how he would take taking orders. But he did a good job. I think he liked being a soldier.
00:18:18
Speaker 1: As girls who grew up on Housewives, do you think people expected you to fold out there? And did that push you harder?
00:18:26
Speaker 2: Absolutely. I think a lot of people definitely think We're materialistic and, you know, don't like to get down and dirty.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: That we would never survive out there.
00:18:38
Speaker 2: Exactly. I grew up, so pick me, but like I was such a tomboy growing up and I loved playing army. Like that was my favorite thing. I had to stop once my best friend got poison oak, but we would just be in the mud, in the bushes. I actually tried scaling up the side of my house one time by tying a rope to my balcony. And thank God I didn't make it up Too high, but only because my foot popped through the window and it broke the window. But if I had gotten any higher and, God forbid, slipped, I don't even know. I was doing some crazy stuff when I was a little girl. So this kind of tapped really into that.
00:19:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, brought out your inner child. It did.
00:19:17
Speaker 2: And that was an emotional piece I wasn't expecting to have either. And it felt very weirdly me to be there. And I don't think people realize that I have that side of me. Maybe they do. Maybe they don't. But I like to prove people wrong. wrong sometimes it's.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: Fun yeah what did special forces show you about yourself that you didn't know before oh.
00:19:42
Speaker 2: My god I mean so much I walked away you know I say it in the promo and I'm going to repeat myself, but it's so true. I always felt like I was a strong person. I always felt like I was brave. I always felt like I could be, you know, I could be that person to really stand up when it hits the fan. But I never really knew because I'm not a thrill seeker. I really am not. I love adventure. I love going off-roading and going paddle boarding. I love just a little side quest. But knowing that I was able to push myself through such intense fear and such intense emotion, I walked away just being like, I can do anything. And now I know I can do anything. I've officially put it to the test. It is tangible evidence. And there's such gratification in knowing that and such, it feels good knowing that I'm so capable of doing those things, especially because I am thinking about becoming a mom soon. And my sister's expecting a baby soon. And when you're inviting children into a family. Thank you. It just feels nice to know that as a mom, I can really pull through if anything ever happens and to have that kind of.
00:21:11
Speaker 1: Strength. Something that you and I both know very well, you know, your parents' separation played out on camera for everyone to see. What was it actually like living through something like that so personal while it was also being filmed? Yeah.
00:21:29
Speaker 2: I never really grew up feeling like I was on a reality show, which I know is so crazy because I know. I know. I think when you have a very strong family unit in that sense or, you know, like there's something about. Just having family through it all, you're not alone, that it just feels normal, just is what it is, but. When it came to the separation, when it comes to certain stories that you're seeing your family and you're getting information that you didn't want, you weren't ready for, you didn't ask for, that was so difficult. That was the first time it really hit.
00:22:09
Speaker 1: When you feel that struggle too and then also when you see the outside noise picking up on it, I think that's when it becomes more real because otherwise we're kind of just in our homes. There's a camera there. we don't we're not paying attention.
00:22:23
Speaker 2: To it exactly but when we see.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: The outside noise picking up everything else that's really going on in our home yeah it feels invasive and weird and maybe it is getting a you know it's hitting too personal but then it's then that's when we kind of have to realize this was our lives you know this is what we said our you know we signed.
00:22:43
Speaker 2: Up for our Exactly. That's the hard part is people are like, you signed up for it. And that's absolutely true. But it doesn't mean it's not hard. I mean, I found out about my parents separation because of an article. Like that was what created them to finally have the conversation where we kind of sensed things were changing. But once we saw the article, you know, we phone started blowing up and definitely felt invasive and I've always been open to sharing my life and that's just part of the game that we've been playing our whole lives and it's not a game it's our real life it's so real and I've always felt very authentic but that in moments like that it can be so difficult and it's just I am weirdly grateful for all of it though because who knows when we would have had that conversation and I.
00:23:40
Speaker 1: Feel like the show is almost like Group therapy.
00:23:44
Speaker 2: It actually is. Exactly. In a very twisted way.
00:23:48
Speaker 1: Yeah. It's our way of therapy. Exactly. But on this season of Ultimate Girls Trip, your mom got really emotional when she was reading Portia's college essay about growing up on TV, being judged, having a mic on at her own birthday. When your little sister puts it that way, how much of that hits home for you?
00:24:11
Speaker 2: It definitely hits home when I think about it in the sense of anyone else in my family, honestly. I feel bad. I feel... Not bad. I feel emotional when my little sister talks about it because it's my little sister and I want to protect her. Exactly. And, like, you know, it can be so hard. And I feel... I really feel for my parents as well with the separation. They don't get the privacy that they deserve. And it's hard.
00:24:39
Speaker 1: It's really.
00:24:40
Speaker 2: It's the protective part of me that cares more about how it affects my family versus how it actually affects me. I can handle it. I'll have my moments, but the protective part of me will always just want everyone to be okay.
00:24:54
Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more. That's me to a T. If my family's struggling, my heart is with them and I want to do everything in my power to protect them. I'm like, when anyone's like, but are you okay?
00:25:07
Speaker 2: I'm like, me?
00:25:08
Speaker 1: No, don't worry about me.
00:25:09
Speaker 2: I'm fine.
00:25:10
Speaker 1: Like, I'm good.
00:25:11
Speaker 2: The hardest part is thinking about the family. Yes.
00:25:13
Speaker 1: If I know that my sibling is struggling or if my mom or dad, I'm like, no. Like, that's what breaks me.
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Me too.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: Because me, I'm like, oh, don't worry about it. I'll be fine. Exactly.
00:25:24
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:25:25
Speaker 1: I got this. You're building your own name in real estate on buying Beverly Hills. Is it strange working with your dad while also trying to carve your own path?
00:25:37
Speaker 2: No, it's not, honestly. I would obviously love people to know me for who I am, apart from my family. But who I am is someone who is a part of the Manske Richards family. I mean, this is who I am. I've never really wanted to separate myself or be my own name. I want people to know me for who I truly am and who I am as part of this unit. But I love partnering with my dad. I love partnering with my sister. I love... I love being a part of this family. I mean, my dream would be to do our own show, Just the Family, and have our businesses and just go shopping and have fun. I want to share everything with my family. I'm such a family girl through and through. So I actually love working with my family. I would do it for the rest of my life.
00:26:24
Speaker 1: Honestly, and I think that's every parent's dream. I mean— We kind of look at our parents, you know, they are the people that we look up to, the people that have tried to set the best example for us. Your dad, he built an empire, you know, he built this real estate empire. And what better gift would it be than to not pass that on to his children and watch his children follow in his footsteps?
00:26:51
Speaker 2: And we grew up with it, too. Like we watched him grow. doing it and working really hard and visiting him at Sunday open houses. It's, it was just always a part of my life. And I always thought it was something so cool. I mean, real estate is, I love homes. I love furniture. I love people. It's all the things I could dream of.
00:27:11
Speaker 1: Please walking into these mansions and being like, Oh, let me sell you on this.
00:27:15
Speaker 2: It's fun.
00:27:16
Speaker 1: It's so fun.
00:27:17
Speaker 2: And I, I'm not a pushy sales kind of person, but I know how to, how to talk things up. I know how to sell.
00:27:25
Speaker 1: You got married last year to Jake, who you've actually known since you were kids. What is it like being with someone who has really known you throughout every chapter of life?
00:27:36
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. I love this question because I love my husband so much. Jake and I have known each other since third grade. And we have been best friends since then. That's so cute. And he has been through... Every guy I've dated, he's known them all, and he's been there through every heartbreak. He's been there through everything I went through with family, growing up. Marrying your best friend is the best advice I could give anybody because we've been together for seven years now, and we've never had a single argument because we know each other so well, and we trust each other so much, and it is just so much fun every single day. We... I'm not going to lie. It's pretty perfect.
00:28:25
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:28:26
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:28:27
Speaker 1: So you guys have been talking about baby plans. Did throwing yourself into something this extreme feel like it was your one last kind of big adventure before you guys enter this chapter?
00:28:41
Speaker 2: That was a little bit of the mentality was, you know what? I might not have the opportunity to do this again, especially... Once a baby baby is around. I mean, and then once you have a baby, you're going to try to have another one. It's a long time until the infants are not infants anymore and you're going to be comfortable going out there.
00:29:00
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:29:02
Speaker 2: But I do, my dad and I actually want to squeeze in one more adventure. We're planning a fun heli skiing trip. This upcoming winter.
00:29:10
Speaker 1: Amazing.
00:29:11
Speaker 2: So we're going to, you know, jump out of more helicopters. One more.
00:29:16
Speaker 1: Oh, my God. Special forces just triggered all the next things to come.
00:29:22
Speaker 2: Wait, that's sick.
00:29:24
Speaker 1: I want to do that.
00:29:25
Speaker 2: I'm really excited. Do you ski?
00:29:26
Speaker 1: I do.
00:29:27
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. We should ski together. It would be so fun.
00:29:29
Speaker 1: Oh, I would love to. It was so funny because we did a little ski trip on Next Jet NYC and they were like, whoa. I go, guys, I don't know why any of you like underestimate me at this point.
00:29:40
Speaker 2: I know.
00:29:40
Speaker 1: Special forces. So much has happened. I was like, yes, I'm a very good skier. I love to ski.
00:29:47
Speaker 2: I love to ski too. I'm a good skier too.
00:29:49
Speaker 1: Because you guys go a lot to Colorado as well, right?
00:29:53
Speaker 2: Aspen, yeah. You guys did your trip in Aspen?
00:29:55
Speaker 1: No.
00:29:55
Speaker 2: Where were you guys?
00:29:56
Speaker 1: No, we didn't have the budget for that yet for Bravo. We were in Wyndham, so we drove there. But I do want to go to Aspen so badly.
00:30:07
Speaker 2: You should come this New Year's. It's so much fun. You should definitely come with your family.
00:30:12
Speaker 1: I would love to.
00:30:13
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:30:14
Speaker 1: My mom wanted me to.
00:30:15
Speaker 2: Tell you she says hi, by the way.
00:30:16
Speaker 1: Judaise Umansky family meetup.
00:30:18
Speaker 2: It would be so fun.
00:30:21
Speaker 1: I love your mom. She's the sweetest ever. What's the thing from this whole experience that stuck with you the most since leaving?
00:30:35
Speaker 2: What stuck with me the most since I've left? I think the most impactful thing walking away from all of it was the sense of teamwork that I got to experience. I'm not a competitive person. I've never really been part of a major team. I did water polo and swim team, but I was like the backup goalie. I never really felt like part of something so special. And the friendships that I got to take away from it, the connections I got to take away from it are so beautiful and so impactful on my life. And I hope I stay connected to everyone forever. And we still... all of us talk all the time and it was just.
00:31:19
Speaker 1: So you're always gonna have that bond just know that it's obviously life goes on but that bond that you guys did this experience together will never go away and it's so fun right now like you guys are all gonna keep in touch and it's so important that you loved your cast it's so important.
00:31:37
Speaker 2: It's it was life-changing to be part of something like that really was I mean I had people pulling me and pushing me and saying such beautiful things to each other making each other laugh and when all we wanted to do was cry it was it was pretty unbelievable.
00:31:57
Speaker 1: So what is next for you Alexia.
00:32:00
Speaker 2: What is next for me that's a great question hmm well if I had I mean, okay, a couple things. One of them is, a couple dreams, you know, I'm going to throw out some dream situations. I would love to be a voice of a cartoon. You never know. Okay, I love that. I would love to voice in a cartoon, TV show, movie, whatever it is, let me know. Would love to do a TV show with my family. I just, every time I put myself out there on TV, TV. I feel like I learned so much about myself and that would just be such a dream. We have so much fun with my family all the time. We have so much to share. It would just be a dream. And obviously motherhood is definitely on the horizon. Waiting a little bit. I don't want people to like, you know, have like, when's it going to happen? But It would be super.
00:33:01
Speaker 1: Cute because your sister's expecting.
00:33:02
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:33:03
Speaker 1: Being an auntie. So now that all the cousins are close in age.
00:33:07
Speaker 2: That's the plan. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. I'm going to test out being an auntie for a little bit, hold my little baby boy, and then probably, you know, around then.
00:33:17
Speaker 1: The baby fever will kick in.
00:33:19
Speaker 2: It's already there, but exactly. I've got to go heli-skiing first.
00:33:25
Speaker 1: Then the baby will come.
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:33:26
Speaker 1: Exactly. Well, Alexia, thank you so much for coming on Casual Chaos.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1: Hey guys and welcome back to another episode of Casual Chaos. Today I'm sitting down with someone who just survived one of the hardest things that I think she will ever do in her life. Alexia Umansky. Alexia is a real estate agent on Buying Beverly Hills, a housewife kid just like me, Kyle Richards' daughter, and she just put herself through special forces. The same show that I did last season. Alexia, welcome to Casual Chaos.
00:00:26
Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. I can't believe this is the first time we're meeting.
00:00:29
Speaker 1: I know, I know.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: We've spoken, but this is a big deal.
00:00:33
Speaker 1: This is a big deal. And our moms just did Ultimate Girls Trip together, even though they've crossed paths so many times.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: But it's like the best season. It is so much fun. And your mom is such a doll. I can't get over her.
00:00:46
Speaker 1: And both of our moms, I just feel like they connect because we have the four girls.
00:00:49
Speaker 2: Exactly. We have a lot in common.
00:00:52
Speaker 1: A lot in common.
00:00:53
Speaker 2: It's kind of crazy.
00:00:54
Speaker 1: So much to talk about. But, okay, first thing that I have to know, now that you've done Special Forces, was it everything that you expected or not at all?
00:01:06
Speaker 2: You know, you think you can prepare yourself. I watched your season. You think you can set up a certain expectation, but there's nothing there. that prepares you for that kind of heat, that kind of discomfort, that kind of fear. I mean, the way my legs trembled. I've never had that kind of sensation in my entire life. And also just the way you instantly connect with the group of people around you. I mean, the way we were just, episode one, it's like literally just me in my underwear in front of all these people I've never met before. And my mom's like, what's wrong with you? I'm like, that's... There was no other choice.
00:01:44
Speaker 1: When they tell you to strip, you need to strip.
00:01:46
Speaker 2: Exactly. They tell you and then it's just suddenly everything changes. It's not normal life over there.
00:01:51
Speaker 1: Do you want to know the funniest thing? So my season last year, Jessie James Decker, when they told us to get into our uniform, she took off her shirt. She forgot to put on a bra.
00:02:00
Speaker 2: No. What do you mean she took off her shirt?
00:02:03
Speaker 1: No, like, yeah.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: Boobs were out?
00:02:05
Speaker 1: Boobs were out. I mean, thank God she has really nice boobs.
00:02:09
Speaker 2: No.
00:02:10
Speaker 1: I mean, the DS got a show for sure. For sure.
00:02:13
Speaker 2: They didn't show that, did they? No. That is hilarious.
00:02:17
Speaker 1: But she talked about it in press and talked about it afterwards. But it was funny because they separate you. I watched the first episode. Did they separate you guys into two groups?
00:02:25
Speaker 2: Yes. Sort of, yeah. It was kind of confusing because we got our heads sacked, whatever.
00:02:31
Speaker 1: You call it. Yes, but you weren't with your dad when they were first asking you and introducing you guys and asking you who you were.
00:02:38
Speaker 2: No, we were. I was next to my dad. They kind of lined us up in our number. He was 14, I was 15. Oh, okay.
00:02:43
Speaker 1: See, they separated my mom and I.
00:02:45
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a little different. We were all put into cars. We weren't supposed to know who we were with, so it was like two groups put into cars. I knew I was in the car with my dad, though, because I know his breathing, but we were all silent. For an hour and a half with those socks on our heads. It was kind of crazy. They don't show how long you're covered for.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: No, they do not. And just everything, even during the challenges and stuff. Even though we were doing it and we were in it, the episodes, they're condensed into 40-minute episodes. So it's so hard to really show everything. It's crazy. But I feel like it does not even.
00:03:22
Speaker 2: No, it doesn't scratch the surface. Someone asked me, they watched episode one. They're like, is it really that hard? I'm like, it's harder. Like that's literally the tiniest fragment of the entire day that we had. It was the longest days. And there's so much they don't show, like the punishments. I mean, I guess they kind of showed it on Instagram later. But I mean, if we looked around, no fidgeting, we weren't allowed to wipe our sweat. I don't My sweaty upper lip was insane. And I wasn't allowed to wipe. I was so petrified of what was going to happen. So they just don't show so much of the fear they instill in you.
00:03:57
Speaker 1: No, especially in the beginning, for sure. But what was your first reaction when they charged into, I can't believe you guys were also by a pool lounging.
00:04:09
Speaker 2: I know.
00:04:11
Speaker 1: You guys just, you really were fooled because that was only the start. We kind of knew it was different because we boarded a bus and we knew we were about to go in. Yeah. And it was, you know, kind of a dingy school bus. We knew that we were about to go into what was going to be hell. Yeah, you were on your way.
00:04:32
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:04:35
Speaker 1: You guys were lounging by the pool. And that's when they came in and invaded.
00:04:39
Speaker 2: I thought we were going to get picked up in cars and have a situation like you guys. I thought we were going to get into cars. We were chilling. We were so comfortable getting to schmooze. I was like, this is unique. I thought maybe because we had a couple real estate people on the season. I was like, wow, they're promoting some mansion. This is cool. I did not expect them to bust in like that. First reaction was just... It went from a nice luxurious little social moment to just heart beating in silence. Everyone went stone cold. It was intense.
00:05:16
Speaker 1: It's so intense.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: It's like a storm rolls over and everything changes. Oh, yeah.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: It's like you really do feel like you're being taken.
00:05:24
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. Like full blown kidnap mode.
00:05:27
Speaker 1: So we did speak before you went into Special Forces. Be honest. Did any of my advice actually hold up when you were in there?
00:05:35
Speaker 2: Yes, it did. It's actually so funny because I have– I don't even know if you know, but I was, like, taking notes. And I looked at my notepad the other day, and it says, phone call with Gia. Heart, heart, heart, heart. And it's just, like, all the little– I wish I kind of, like, memorized some of them. But you really– It's more just like the reassuring. It was like a hug through the phone. Hearing it from you. I said in another interview, you have such a maternal vibe to you. And you're younger than me. But I was like, hearing it from her, I just felt like everything was going to be okay. You said it was hard. It was absolutely hard. You did not sell it short. You're like, it is absolutely difficult. And I kind of liked hearing that. It helped me prepare a certain expectation for But knowing that you made it to the end was so, you know, it made me feel like anything is possible, you know?
00:06:32
Speaker 1: Definitely.
00:06:32
Speaker 2: Little girls like us.
00:06:35
Speaker 1: Come on. This is why they cannot underestimate the underdogs. I mean, and it is a little intimidating. I felt it as well. You're walking into a room with NBA players, NFL players, Olympians, like athletes, and you're there like, whoa, I don't know if I can do this. But I feel like you'll, obviously you learned as the course went on. What did you feel like was more challenging, the physical aspect of it or the mental aspect?
00:07:05
Speaker 2: For me, it was totally the physical. I mean, I think I'm very strong. My mind is very strong. I'm so emotional. Don't get me wrong. I cry every single day. But I'm not the most strong in terms of, you know, muscle. I do some Pilates like maybe once a week. And without the help of our team, you know, we really went in with that team mentality. So many people helped me lift things and pushed me. And I could not have made it through without, you know, Candice Bure is so much stronger than you would think she is. I mean, we were lifting sandbags. I couldn't even get the sandbags over my head. Everyone helped me so much. And that's so much of what the military is like, is helping each other through. And I think it's important to highlight that the show is not a competition. You actually get through by supporting each other and helping each other. And everyone's like, who wins? And it's not about who wins. And my dad said it perfectly. You're really only against yourself.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: 100%. What was the single hardest moment for you out there?
00:08:17
Speaker 2: The single hardest moment. I'm like trying to think of in terms of the actual challenges.
00:08:29
Speaker 1: Or was it even being away from your family? I think.
00:08:34
Speaker 2: Well, being away from my family was difficult. Anytime anyone brought up my mom, I would just immediately start crying. No. I'm like, what's wrong with you? I'm like, it's just you saying my mom.
00:08:41
Speaker 1: The waterworks for me, it was ridiculous. When my mom left me on day two.
00:08:46
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. I was.
00:08:49
Speaker 1: And it was funny because I was the youngest on the course. You were too, right?
00:08:53
Speaker 2: Colin and Max, I think, were... Colin, I think, might have been the youngest.
00:08:57
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:08:58
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:08:59
Speaker 1: But still, like, we're in our 20s. We're younger. And my.
00:09:04
Speaker 1: Cast really, they were all just nurturing me because my mom left and I was like, just weeping in my little cot every single day.
00:09:13
Speaker 2: I remember you at like, she left and you're like, can I have some water? Like, no, that, that moment really stuck with me. I was like, I, I would really need a sip of water in that moment. Like that's so intense.
00:09:23
Speaker 1: Before the milling? Like, are you kidding?
00:09:25
Speaker 2: Oh my God.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: I got my ass beat.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: You know what? It honestly might've been There's two. It's kind of tied. The milling was extremely emotional for me. I learned that violence really strikes a chord for me where I had a really intense reaction I didn't expect because I've never really been in any violent situation like that. And then also the gas.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: Oh, okay.
00:09:50
Speaker 2: Gas was by far the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life.
00:09:57
Speaker 1: Really?
00:09:57
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:09:59
Speaker 1: I don't know why. I didn't get that. And I feel like some people it really affects them. I didn't feel that. I felt like my mask must have been on right because I felt like I could breathe.
00:10:12
Speaker 2: Wait, did they not rip your mask off? Because ours got ripped off. They had to. Are you serious?
00:10:18
Speaker 1: No. Yeah, we didn't get our masks ripped off. Actually, it was funny because I didn't take my mask off because I.
00:10:24
Speaker 2: Was so confused.
00:10:25
Speaker 1: I didn't know what was going on.
00:10:28
Speaker 2: I was so confused, too, by the way. I think I ripped my own mask off because I was like, I'm not waiting for them. And it was starting to come in through the mask. I was like, I'm just doing it myself. If I had known, maybe I was allowed to keep it. I probably was. And I just was like, woo, let's go.
00:10:42
Speaker 1: So I had mine on and We got outside and like we were looking outside like and we weren't enclosed in the house anymore. So we got outside and we're searching for obviously our missing person or our hostage. And it was either DSQ or DS Rudy and they look at me and they're like, Take the mask off. You're outside.
00:11:08
Speaker 2: That's so funny.
00:11:12
Speaker 1: I was like, honestly, I'm not thinking straight, clearly.
00:11:16
Speaker 2: You don't think straight. I definitely had a little dingbat moment or two where I was just like completely misunderstood the assignment. Like, sorry, I don't even know. This is a lot. I'm tired. It's too much. It really is. But you know what? We still did it.
00:11:30
Speaker 1: You did the whole thing with your dad. What made you two decide to jump into something this intense together?
00:11:37
Speaker 2: My dad and I are two peas in a pod. We do a lot of skiing together, outdoor adventures together. Him and I are just the two that do that. And now that I have a husband, he's part of our, it's become a little bit of a trio. We go on adventures together. But It just made perfect sense for the two of us. We love to explore and we love to push ourselves. And it just felt right.
00:12:04
Speaker 1: And honestly, when are you ever going to be able to say in your lifetime without really being given this opportunity that you did this with your dad?
00:12:15
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:12:15
Speaker 1: It's really cool.
00:12:17
Speaker 2: It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I think what the most important... special part of it was, is to be with real military men and be through something that so many people, I mean, it's like military hell week, right? And so many people really try so hard to get to that point when they're really training to be part of the Navy SEALs or whatever, you know, wing that they're trying to be a part of. The fact that we got to go, I got to do it with my dad and we got to experience something that so many people don't even get, get that far. And it's, I mean... I feel so incredibly blessed to have experienced something like that, and I feel like it's opened my mind so much. I always respected our veterans, but to a whole new level now.
00:13:01
Speaker 1: Right, doesn't it just, it raises the bar so high.
00:13:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, it really does. I mean, there's so much focus on the people, the recruits, but I really feel like the directing staff deserve such a big spotlight for what they do.
00:13:26
Speaker 1: Doing something that hard alongside with your dad, especially with everything that your family has been through, what did that bring up for the two of you while you were doing Special Forces?
00:13:36
Speaker 2: Hmm. You know, I feel like it was more just... What did it bring up for the two of us in terms of like, I think it was more just, it just made us stronger. I mean, obviously, I feel like you can relate. There's so many things. We grew up in a spotlight. It's absolutely crazy to have so many things about your life shown to the public world. And doing something like this is so different. You know, you're disgusting. You're scared. You're in such vulnerable positions. It was so bonding for us. And it was just so much, I don't know, it just took it to a whole new level.
00:14:24
Speaker 1: Did you have any fear? Because I know when I was doing it with my mom, I was so nervous. Just I didn't want her to get hurt. I didn't want anything to happen to her. Because you really are in these high-risk situations. Obviously, you don't plan on getting hurt. They do a great job. with ensuring all the safety precautions and making sure that we are safe, but you really don't know what to expect.
00:14:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, you never know.
00:14:48
Speaker 1: I had a hard time with that.
00:14:51
Speaker 2: You know, it's my dad, right? Our dads are protectors, and they're supposed to keep you safe from everything. And when you see your dad in a vulnerable position, I loved having my dad there. I wouldn't have switched it for anything in the world, but it was a little difficult to see him in pain. Yeah. That was challenging. I don't want to say too much. But, you know, he was even hurt before we went into the jungle. We were training in the gym a lot, trying to get a little stronger and stronger. And I think he went a little too hard in the gym. And he really hurt his bicep going into it. And he underplays his injuries all the time. But I could tell through the course that it was starting to bother him. And in my head, I don't want to, you know— say like, Hey, what's going on? Cause I want him to know I want him there, but I could tell that pain was starting to come on and it was definitely sitting heavily on my chest.
00:15:50
Speaker 1: Yeah. Your mom definitely wasn't the happiest that you two were going to go into special forces and do this show. She said that she's had sleepless nights. She wanted to kill your dad for involving you in this. Has her perspective changed now that you guys are back from doing Special Forces?
00:16:15
Speaker 2: That's a great question that she would probably answer the best. I don't know if it's changed. It's going to be a difficult show for her to watch. Episode one, you could tell she was stressed. Your body was tight watching it. It's intense. It's really intense.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: It's so intense. Just even imagine that your loved ones are doing these things. It's just that fear.
00:16:34
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:16:35
Speaker 1: And I also think that fear in a mother will probably never go away. When my mom left and I was still there in Morocco, she said she couldn't sleep. She was crying every day. And even more so because.
00:16:51
Speaker 2: She knew– That I was there.
00:16:54
Speaker 1: Yeah, like she knew exactly what was going down.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: She knew just how scary and intense it was and where you were sleeping. She knew about those toilets. She was like, my poor baby is like.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: What was your special item?
00:17:07
Speaker 2: You told me the special item, the wipes.
00:17:10
Speaker 1: You brought them?
00:17:11
Speaker 2: Yes. Are you kidding me? That was a life changer.
00:17:13
Speaker 1: How good?
00:17:14
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. Thank God.
00:17:15
Speaker 1: Because even when you couldn't shower, at least it kind of made you feel clean.
00:17:19
Speaker 2: Yes. It was a game changer.
00:17:21
Speaker 1: I love that you brought the wipes.
00:17:23
Speaker 2: Yeah. Thank you for that. That makes me so happy. Oh, my God.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: Did you see a different side of your dad that you never saw before?
00:17:31
Speaker 2: I did. I... Saw my dad. You know, my dad is my boss, and he's my dad. And he, our company, the agency, everyone calls him our fearless leader. And he absolutely was a fearless leader in this group. He really spoke to everyone and said words of wisdom to everyone. We were all so supportive of each other. But it was very interesting to see my dad in a position of not authority. You know, he was taking orders. He was being told what to do. It was... It was a new light. And you know what? It was humbling, I think, for both of us. And it was special. And I was very proud of him for handling it really well. I was curious how he would take taking orders. But he did a good job. I think he liked being a soldier.
00:18:18
Speaker 1: As girls who grew up on Housewives, do you think people expected you to fold out there? And did that push you harder?
00:18:26
Speaker 2: Absolutely. I think a lot of people definitely think We're materialistic and, you know, don't like to get down and dirty.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: That we would never survive out there.
00:18:38
Speaker 2: Exactly. I grew up, so pick me, but like I was such a tomboy growing up and I loved playing army. Like that was my favorite thing. I had to stop once my best friend got poison oak, but we would just be in the mud, in the bushes. I actually tried scaling up the side of my house one time by tying a rope to my balcony. And thank God I didn't make it up Too high, but only because my foot popped through the window and it broke the window. But if I had gotten any higher and, God forbid, slipped, I don't even know. I was doing some crazy stuff when I was a little girl. So this kind of tapped really into that.
00:19:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, brought out your inner child. It did.
00:19:17
Speaker 2: And that was an emotional piece I wasn't expecting to have either. And it felt very weirdly me to be there. And I don't think people realize that I have that side of me. Maybe they do. Maybe they don't. But I like to prove people wrong. wrong sometimes it's.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: Fun yeah what did special forces show you about yourself that you didn't know before oh.
00:19:42
Speaker 2: My god I mean so much I walked away you know I say it in the promo and I'm going to repeat myself, but it's so true. I always felt like I was a strong person. I always felt like I was brave. I always felt like I could be, you know, I could be that person to really stand up when it hits the fan. But I never really knew because I'm not a thrill seeker. I really am not. I love adventure. I love going off-roading and going paddle boarding. I love just a little side quest. But knowing that I was able to push myself through such intense fear and such intense emotion, I walked away just being like, I can do anything. And now I know I can do anything. I've officially put it to the test. It is tangible evidence. And there's such gratification in knowing that and such, it feels good knowing that I'm so capable of doing those things, especially because I am thinking about becoming a mom soon. And my sister's expecting a baby soon. And when you're inviting children into a family. Thank you. It just feels nice to know that as a mom, I can really pull through if anything ever happens and to have that kind of.
00:21:11
Speaker 1: Strength. Something that you and I both know very well, you know, your parents' separation played out on camera for everyone to see. What was it actually like living through something like that so personal while it was also being filmed? Yeah.
00:21:29
Speaker 2: I never really grew up feeling like I was on a reality show, which I know is so crazy because I know. I know. I think when you have a very strong family unit in that sense or, you know, like there's something about. Just having family through it all, you're not alone, that it just feels normal, just is what it is, but. When it came to the separation, when it comes to certain stories that you're seeing your family and you're getting information that you didn't want, you weren't ready for, you didn't ask for, that was so difficult. That was the first time it really hit.
00:22:09
Speaker 1: When you feel that struggle too and then also when you see the outside noise picking up on it, I think that's when it becomes more real because otherwise we're kind of just in our homes. There's a camera there. we don't we're not paying attention.
00:22:23
Speaker 2: To it exactly but when we see.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: The outside noise picking up everything else that's really going on in our home yeah it feels invasive and weird and maybe it is getting a you know it's hitting too personal but then it's then that's when we kind of have to realize this was our lives you know this is what we said our you know we signed.
00:22:43
Speaker 2: Up for our Exactly. That's the hard part is people are like, you signed up for it. And that's absolutely true. But it doesn't mean it's not hard. I mean, I found out about my parents separation because of an article. Like that was what created them to finally have the conversation where we kind of sensed things were changing. But once we saw the article, you know, we phone started blowing up and definitely felt invasive and I've always been open to sharing my life and that's just part of the game that we've been playing our whole lives and it's not a game it's our real life it's so real and I've always felt very authentic but that in moments like that it can be so difficult and it's just I am weirdly grateful for all of it though because who knows when we would have had that conversation and I.
00:23:40
Speaker 1: Feel like the show is almost like Group therapy.
00:23:44
Speaker 2: It actually is. Exactly. In a very twisted way.
00:23:48
Speaker 1: Yeah. It's our way of therapy. Exactly. But on this season of Ultimate Girls Trip, your mom got really emotional when she was reading Portia's college essay about growing up on TV, being judged, having a mic on at her own birthday. When your little sister puts it that way, how much of that hits home for you?
00:24:11
Speaker 2: It definitely hits home when I think about it in the sense of anyone else in my family, honestly. I feel bad. I feel... Not bad. I feel emotional when my little sister talks about it because it's my little sister and I want to protect her. Exactly. And, like, you know, it can be so hard. And I feel... I really feel for my parents as well with the separation. They don't get the privacy that they deserve. And it's hard.
00:24:39
Speaker 1: It's really.
00:24:40
Speaker 2: It's the protective part of me that cares more about how it affects my family versus how it actually affects me. I can handle it. I'll have my moments, but the protective part of me will always just want everyone to be okay.
00:24:54
Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more. That's me to a T. If my family's struggling, my heart is with them and I want to do everything in my power to protect them. I'm like, when anyone's like, but are you okay?
00:25:07
Speaker 2: I'm like, me?
00:25:08
Speaker 1: No, don't worry about me.
00:25:09
Speaker 2: I'm fine.
00:25:10
Speaker 1: Like, I'm good.
00:25:11
Speaker 2: The hardest part is thinking about the family. Yes.
00:25:13
Speaker 1: If I know that my sibling is struggling or if my mom or dad, I'm like, no. Like, that's what breaks me.
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Me too.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: Because me, I'm like, oh, don't worry about it. I'll be fine. Exactly.
00:25:24
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:25:25
Speaker 1: I got this. You're building your own name in real estate on buying Beverly Hills. Is it strange working with your dad while also trying to carve your own path?
00:25:37
Speaker 2: No, it's not, honestly. I would obviously love people to know me for who I am, apart from my family. But who I am is someone who is a part of the Manske Richards family. I mean, this is who I am. I've never really wanted to separate myself or be my own name. I want people to know me for who I truly am and who I am as part of this unit. But I love partnering with my dad. I love partnering with my sister. I love... I love being a part of this family. I mean, my dream would be to do our own show, Just the Family, and have our businesses and just go shopping and have fun. I want to share everything with my family. I'm such a family girl through and through. So I actually love working with my family. I would do it for the rest of my life.
00:26:24
Speaker 1: Honestly, and I think that's every parent's dream. I mean— We kind of look at our parents, you know, they are the people that we look up to, the people that have tried to set the best example for us. Your dad, he built an empire, you know, he built this real estate empire. And what better gift would it be than to not pass that on to his children and watch his children follow in his footsteps?
00:26:51
Speaker 2: And we grew up with it, too. Like we watched him grow. doing it and working really hard and visiting him at Sunday open houses. It's, it was just always a part of my life. And I always thought it was something so cool. I mean, real estate is, I love homes. I love furniture. I love people. It's all the things I could dream of.
00:27:11
Speaker 1: Please walking into these mansions and being like, Oh, let me sell you on this.
00:27:15
Speaker 2: It's fun.
00:27:16
Speaker 1: It's so fun.
00:27:17
Speaker 2: And I, I'm not a pushy sales kind of person, but I know how to, how to talk things up. I know how to sell.
00:27:25
Speaker 1: You got married last year to Jake, who you've actually known since you were kids. What is it like being with someone who has really known you throughout every chapter of life?
00:27:36
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. I love this question because I love my husband so much. Jake and I have known each other since third grade. And we have been best friends since then. That's so cute. And he has been through... Every guy I've dated, he's known them all, and he's been there through every heartbreak. He's been there through everything I went through with family, growing up. Marrying your best friend is the best advice I could give anybody because we've been together for seven years now, and we've never had a single argument because we know each other so well, and we trust each other so much, and it is just so much fun every single day. We... I'm not going to lie. It's pretty perfect.
00:28:25
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:28:26
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:28:27
Speaker 1: So you guys have been talking about baby plans. Did throwing yourself into something this extreme feel like it was your one last kind of big adventure before you guys enter this chapter?
00:28:41
Speaker 2: That was a little bit of the mentality was, you know what? I might not have the opportunity to do this again, especially... Once a baby baby is around. I mean, and then once you have a baby, you're going to try to have another one. It's a long time until the infants are not infants anymore and you're going to be comfortable going out there.
00:29:00
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:29:02
Speaker 2: But I do, my dad and I actually want to squeeze in one more adventure. We're planning a fun heli skiing trip. This upcoming winter.
00:29:10
Speaker 1: Amazing.
00:29:11
Speaker 2: So we're going to, you know, jump out of more helicopters. One more.
00:29:16
Speaker 1: Oh, my God. Special forces just triggered all the next things to come.
00:29:22
Speaker 2: Wait, that's sick.
00:29:24
Speaker 1: I want to do that.
00:29:25
Speaker 2: I'm really excited. Do you ski?
00:29:26
Speaker 1: I do.
00:29:27
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. We should ski together. It would be so fun.
00:29:29
Speaker 1: Oh, I would love to. It was so funny because we did a little ski trip on Next Jet NYC and they were like, whoa. I go, guys, I don't know why any of you like underestimate me at this point.
00:29:40
Speaker 2: I know.
00:29:40
Speaker 1: Special forces. So much has happened. I was like, yes, I'm a very good skier. I love to ski.
00:29:47
Speaker 2: I love to ski too. I'm a good skier too.
00:29:49
Speaker 1: Because you guys go a lot to Colorado as well, right?
00:29:53
Speaker 2: Aspen, yeah. You guys did your trip in Aspen?
00:29:55
Speaker 1: No.
00:29:55
Speaker 2: Where were you guys?
00:29:56
Speaker 1: No, we didn't have the budget for that yet for Bravo. We were in Wyndham, so we drove there. But I do want to go to Aspen so badly.
00:30:07
Speaker 2: You should come this New Year's. It's so much fun. You should definitely come with your family.
00:30:12
Speaker 1: I would love to.
00:30:13
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:30:14
Speaker 1: My mom wanted me to.
00:30:15
Speaker 2: Tell you she says hi, by the way.
00:30:16
Speaker 1: Judaise Umansky family meetup.
00:30:18
Speaker 2: It would be so fun.
00:30:21
Speaker 1: I love your mom. She's the sweetest ever. What's the thing from this whole experience that stuck with you the most since leaving?
00:30:35
Speaker 2: What stuck with me the most since I've left? I think the most impactful thing walking away from all of it was the sense of teamwork that I got to experience. I'm not a competitive person. I've never really been part of a major team. I did water polo and swim team, but I was like the backup goalie. I never really felt like part of something so special. And the friendships that I got to take away from it, the connections I got to take away from it are so beautiful and so impactful on my life. And I hope I stay connected to everyone forever. And we still... all of us talk all the time and it was just.
00:31:19
Speaker 1: So you're always gonna have that bond just know that it's obviously life goes on but that bond that you guys did this experience together will never go away and it's so fun right now like you guys are all gonna keep in touch and it's so important that you loved your cast it's so important.
00:31:37
Speaker 2: It's it was life-changing to be part of something like that really was I mean I had people pulling me and pushing me and saying such beautiful things to each other making each other laugh and when all we wanted to do was cry it was it was pretty unbelievable.
00:31:57
Speaker 1: So what is next for you Alexia.
00:32:00
Speaker 2: What is next for me that's a great question hmm well if I had I mean, okay, a couple things. One of them is, a couple dreams, you know, I'm going to throw out some dream situations. I would love to be a voice of a cartoon. You never know. Okay, I love that. I would love to voice in a cartoon, TV show, movie, whatever it is, let me know. Would love to do a TV show with my family. I just, every time I put myself out there on TV, TV. I feel like I learned so much about myself and that would just be such a dream. We have so much fun with my family all the time. We have so much to share. It would just be a dream. And obviously motherhood is definitely on the horizon. Waiting a little bit. I don't want people to like, you know, have like, when's it going to happen? But It would be super.
00:33:01
Speaker 1: Cute because your sister's expecting.
00:33:02
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:33:03
Speaker 1: Being an auntie. So now that all the cousins are close in age.
00:33:07
Speaker 2: That's the plan. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. I'm going to test out being an auntie for a little bit, hold my little baby boy, and then probably, you know, around then.
00:33:17
Speaker 1: The baby fever will kick in.
00:33:19
Speaker 2: It's already there, but exactly. I've got to go heli-skiing first.
00:33:25
Speaker 1: Then the baby will come.
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:33:26
Speaker 1: Exactly. Well, Alexia, thank you so much for coming on Casual Chaos.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me.
