Reality Test
Dr.s Kay & Ray
Psychologists talk RealiTV!
Two licensed psychologists look at what we can learn about culture, societal oppression, social privilege, and ourselves from reality television. Grounded in their sociopolitical positions as relational, anti-racist, feminists, Dr.s Kay & Ray address the power dynamics; social (in)justice; intersecting oppressions, marginalizations, and privileges; and sociohistorical context present in numerous, popular reality television shows, while also celebrating the hope and empowerment that can be found.
At the end of some of our first episodes (3, 4, & 8), and now as separate episodes, “Mental Health Check-Up” segments explore brief mental health interventions, self-help tips, or other concepts from psychology for us all to further noodle on!
We hope to inspire further discussion about psychological and sociocultural aspects of our favorite reality tv shows, offering rough draft thoughts and ideas for us all to continue thinking about. After all, reality television ultimately provides an engaging format for learning about human behavior, mental health, and sociopolitical systems—let’s learn together !
DISCLAIMER: In the context of this podcast, we are not acting as therapists, neither for you nor for the reality castmates we discuss. We are, instead, bringing in our whole human selves, supplemented by mental health and psychology knowledge. We both adhere to social constructionism, such that we believe all knowledge is co-constructed in the context of relationships and we all have our own reality, informed by our own biased memories and subjectivities.
Despite realiTV making us all believe we know the castmates, we clearly do not, and we cannot ethically diagnose them or speak with certainty about their dynamics without conducting formal psychological assessments. Thus, our opinions will be merely (easily erroneous) opinions, informed by our biased perspectives, and while we may discuss diagnoses, we will avoid assigning them to castmates. We've spent years developing our professional roles as psychotherapists, professors, supervisors, and consultants, but we are new to podcasting--as you'll notice! Thank you in advance for your patience and feedback :) This will be an imperfect, but growth-fostering process, and we appreciate your engagement with it and with us! Thanks, y’all.
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Top 10 Reality Test Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Reality Test episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Reality Test for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Reality Test episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Boundaries, Rupture/Repair, and Use of Humor to Air Grievances | Real Housewives of NYC, Ep.2
Reality Test
10/16/24 • 41 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray recap the second episode of the Real Housewives of New York, incorporating their six segments. Segments include something they wish more people knew about, and something people didn’t talk about the next day, despite Dr.s Kay & Ray thinking they would.
What did you think about the Brynn-Erin repair conversation?
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
10/14/24 • 76 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray recap the premiere episode of Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY), season 15, incorporating their six psychology-focused segments. Segments include what would be different if producers were psychologists and what Dr.s Kay & Ray would say to a client with a presenting concern that appears in the episode. For example, producers seem to be promoting Brynn as a villain, despite her having been (seemingly) relationally bullied by the other castmates-- including at the past two events that she hosted (e.g., her self-hosted birthday party!)! Dr. Kay offers a theoretical understanding of Brynn's cognitive, behavioral, and relational patterns, as present thus far in her time on RHONY, with consideration of what we know about her childhood.
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
04/08/24 • 30 min
Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray discuss episode 10 of Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules. They talk about the first two events for which Ariana had to share a nightmarishly small space with Tom Sandoval: the water tasting and the beach. Ariana’s justified anger is met with distaste from her crew, despite her almost losing a second dog, this time at the hands of Tom, rather than while Rachel was in the hands of Tom. Oh, and he tries to low-key blame Ann.
Dr.s Kay & Ray also do Testosterboned & Relationship Test segments, leading to discussion of Katie & Schwartz’s sexual tension--the first we've seen of it--and The Valley. Last, Dr. Kay does a Mental Health Check-Up about societal & gendered oppression of emotion.
References for Mental Health Check-up:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Hill Collins, P. (1990). Black feminist thought. Routledge.
Gregory, P. (2023). Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History. William Collins.
Kagan, J. (2007). What is emotion? History, measures, and meanings. Yale University Press.
Storage, D., Charlesworth, T., Banaji, M., Cimpian, A. (2020). Adults and children implicitly associate brilliance with men more than women. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2020.104020
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Email: [email protected]
04/03/24 • 83 min
After his emotional orgasm, Tom has “a friend here"--but it’s not a breathwork boner. We feel you, Lala, we're not jazzed about how people are moving, either.
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Dr.s Kay & Ray discuss episodes 7-9 of Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules. In addition to the usual faves, they talk about Jo and Jax, as well as Ann and Sandy.
During check-ins, Dr.s Kay & Ray even throw a little attention towards aliens while discussing the Sci-Fi & Fantasy subcategories of Speculative Fiction! They also try out a new segment: “Relationship Test”, leading to discussion of Sandy’s gender bending & friendships among VPR women.
Reality testing is when we check van emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
Dr. Kay recaps the premiere episodes of season 5 of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC). Across this and the following podcast episode, Dr. Kay incorporates the six psychology-focused segments, such as what sociopolitical topics arose in the episodes and what Dr. Kay would say to a client with a presenting concern that appears in the episodes.
For example, Dr. Kay discusses Heather’s Ozempic journey and Meredith’s religious goals as sociopolitical topics, as well as what types of conversations might be helpful for the two New B’s (newbies!), were they to seek psychotherapy with Dr. Kay.
Ever wonder what your therapist might say if they watched The Real Housewives franchises? Check it out!
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
06/25/24 • 55 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray dispense their 8 awards among all of the realiTV shows they watched this past week!
...and the TESTosterboned (most patriarchal) award goes to... could it be Harry & the Perfect Match men? The Love Island men? The Love Undercover men? Whom would you award it to this week? All of them? Fendi facts!
What about the opposite award, the Bechdel TEST (most feminist)? Or the TESTimonial award (best confessional)? To which moments or whom did the other 5 awards go?
Moments & castmates awarded include those from the latest episodes of Summer House, The Real Housewives of Dubai, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Love Island US, and Perfect Match, as well as ep. 11 of The Challenge All Stars, and ep.s 6-9 of Love Undercover.
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
03/25/24 • 129 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray discuss episodes 7-10 of Joey Graziadei’s season (season 28) of The Bachelor. They talk about Toronto, hometown dates, fantasy suites, and the women tell all.
At the end, Dr. Kay offers the first Mental Health Check-Up (MHCU) segment, about the connection between anger and depression, as well as a little bit about sleep.
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
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References for Mental Health Check-up:
Abraham, K. (1911). Notes on the psycho-analytical investigation and treatment of manic-depressive insanity and allied conditions. In Selected Papers on Psychoanalysis, 137–56. Hogarth Press, 1927.
Busch, F., Rudden, M., Shapiro, T. (2004). Psychodynamic Treatment of Depression. American Psychiatric Press.
Eisenberger, N., Lieberman, M., & Williams, K. (2003). Does rejection hurt: An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302, 290–292.
Freud, S. (1917). Mourning and melancholia. In The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume 14 (ed J Strachey): 239–58. Hogarth Press, 1953.
Gillette, M., & Tischkau, S. (1999). Suprachiasmatic nucleus: the brain's circadian clock. Recent progress in hormone research, 54, 33–59.
Luutonen, S. (2007). Anger and depression – theoretical and clinical considerations. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry; 61: 246–51.
Verrier, N. (1993). The primal wound: understanding the adopted child. Gateway Press.
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
Bachelorette ep.7 & Love Island Reunion! | Producers felt Jenn was difficult to produce??
Reality Test
08/27/24 • 51 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray start with some updates from Bachelor Nation & Love Island, including the Mesnicks’ tea spill about the (arguably racially biased) information with which Bachelor producers were briefing date hosts during filming. Next, they cover episode 7 of Jenn Tran’s Bachelorette season (21), discussing hometown dates, HuJus, and the man huddle at the brewery. They also address Bachelor producers protecting the image of the show as unmanipulated reality, and the effects of such on Jeremy’s hometown date. Last, Dr.s Kay & Ray discuss the Love Island reunion, hosted by Ariana Madix, with a particular focus on the group dynamics, the "Backseat" video clip, and Kendall’s trauma.
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Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
09/20/24 • 67 min
Dr.s Kay & Ray review any and all of the reality TV they watched over the week, awarding moments and/or castmates with the 6 weekly awards (all with “test” in their titles)!
And the TESTosterboned (most patriarchal) award gooooes to... whom? Or, what? Hint: this man from Love is Blind UK came up a few times...
What about the opposite award, the Bechdel TEST (most feminist)? Or the TESTimonial award (best confessional)? To which moments or whom did the remaining 4 awards go? To whom would you want them to go?
Check out the episode to compare their choices to your own!
This week, awards went to current episodes of Big Brother, The Circle season 7, & The Anonymous, as well as season 1 of Love is Blind UK and season 2 of The Traitors.
—----------------------------------------------------------
Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
Repair, Whole-Object Thinking, & White-Presenting Privilege (bonus: Election!) | Award Show | Week of 11/4
Reality Test
11/12/24 • 86 min
The Award Show is BACK, baby! After a few weeks of strictly recap episodes, Dr.s Kay & Ray bring back their realiTV awards! They review any and all of the reality TV they watched over the past few weeks, awarding moments and/or castmates with the same 6 awards (all with “test” in their titles)! The topics in the title came up in these episodes of reality television, providing us with fodder for accessible application of our understanding of them to funny and/or problematic interactions and representations.
Dr.s Kay & Ray also discuss their emotions, thoughts, and self-care suggestions associated with the election last Tuesday for their check-ins portion at the beginning of the episode. Should you be happy with the outcome of the election, feel free to fast forward through the check-ins to about 20mins in.
And the TESTosterboned (most patriarchal) award gooooes to... whom? Or, what? Hint: there seems to be a theme with the men in D.C....
What about the opposite award, the Bechdel TEST (most feminist)? Or the TESTimonial award (best confessional)? To which moments or whom did the remaining 4 awards go? To whom would you want them to go?
Check out the episode to compare their choices to your own!
This week, awards went to moments & castmates from the latest seasons of Love is Blind, Selling Sunset, Real Housewives of New York City, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and Golden Bachelorette, as well as past seasons of The Traitors and Summer House.
—----------------------------------------------------------
Reality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we’re having against objective reality.
So, here in Reality Test, we’re going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality.
Come Reality Test with us!
And Happy Birthday to our sound extraordinaire, Conner!
Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. Ray
Thank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!
Instagram: @drkaypods @drraypods
TikTok: @dr.realitv
Facebook Page: Reality Test Pod YouTube Channel: @RealityTestPodEmail: [email protected]
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FAQ
How many episodes does Reality Test have?
Reality Test currently has 71 episodes available.
What topics does Reality Test cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Feminism, Podcasts, Relationships, Reality Tv, After Shows and Tv & Film.
What is the most popular episode on Reality Test?
The episode title 'Bachelor Ep.s 3-6 | All men are allowed to like sausage in their face' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Reality Test?
The average episode length on Reality Test is 57 minutes.
How often are episodes of Reality Test released?
Episodes of Reality Test are typically released every 3 days, 12 hours.
When was the first episode of Reality Test?
The first episode of Reality Test was released on Mar 23, 2024.
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